Abstract
Leprosy pathogenesis has not been definitively understood. However, three points are indisputable: the etiological agent is Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae), the disease develops only in susceptible individuals, and in endemic countries the environment (low socioeconomic status and overcrowding) plays a role in the transmission of the infection. Leprosy disease and clinical manifestations are the result of a dynamic interactive process between M. leprae and the cell-mediated immunity (CMI) of genetically predisposed subjects. Subjects with a predominantly Th1 immune response will develop a high degree of CMI and localized disease with few bacilli (tuberculoid leprosy). On the contrary, individuals with a predominantly response will develop a weak CMI with an increased humoral immunity: bacilli will survive and replicate, developing a systemic disease (lepromatous leprosy).
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© 2012 Springer-Verlag Italia
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Massone, C., Nunzi, E. (2012). Pathogenesis. In: Nunzi, E., Massone, C. (eds) Leprosy. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2376-5_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2376-5_5
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