Involvement of Mycobacterium leprae in the neurotrophic modulation of peripheral nervous system

• Grant number: 10/00146-7
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2010
• End date: June 30, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Cellular Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Maria Renata Sales Nogueira
• Grantee: Maria Renata Sales Nogueira
• Host Institution: Instituto Lauro de Souza Lima (ILSL). Coordenadoria de Controle de Doenças (CCD). Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The global prevalence of leprosy was 213,000 cases in early 2009. Of these new cases, it is estimated that 5% of patients show signs of motor or autonomic neuropathy at diagnosis and during treatment. Even after the cure of the infection, in a substantial proportion of affected individuals disabilities will persist throughout life. These sequelae are among the major challenges of leprosy, both clinically and scientific. The neuropathy begins with infection by M. leprae, which has tropism for the peripheral nervous system. One of the outstanding issues in the study of the pathogenesis of leprosy refers precisely to the loss of the ability of Schwann cells in providing neurotrophic mediators to targeted areas, allowing the setting up of irreparable damages. The neurotrophic factors play an important role in the development, protection, and regeneration of peripheral nervous system. The aim of this study is evaluate the interference of M. leprae in the expression of neurotrophic mediators involved in the maturation of Schwann cells and myelination of peripheral nerves, throughout in vitro model of myelination, based on co-cultures of neurons and Schwann cells, and in vivo evaluation by inoculation of M. leprae in sciatic nerves of nude mice. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CASALENOVO, MARIANE BERTOLUCCI; ROSA, PATRICIA SAMMARCO; DE FARIA BERTOLUCI, DANIELE FERREIRA; ASSENCIO ALMEIDA BARBOSA, ADRIANA SIERRA; DO NASCIMENTO, DEJAIR CAITANO; BRITO DE SOUZA, VANIA NIETO; SALES NOGUEIRA, MARIA RENATA. Myelination key factor krox-20 is downregulated in Schwann cells and murine sciatic nerves infected by Mycobacterium leprae. International Journal of Experimental Pathology, v. 100, n. 2, p. 83-93, APR 2019. (10/00146-7)

MARIA RENATA SALES NOGUEIRA; NÁDIA GHINELLI AMÔR; LETÍCIA BACCARO MICHELLIN; MILTON CURY FILHO; PATRÍCIA SAMMARCO ROSA; ANA CARLA PEREIRA LATINI; LUCIANA SILVA RODRIGUES; ROBERTHA MARIANA RODRIGUES LEMES; FLAVIO ALVES LARA; MARIA CRISTINA VIDAL PESSOLANI. Effect of Mycobacterium leprae on neurotrophins expression in human Schwann cells and mouse sciatic nerves. Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, v. 115, 2020-07-17. (10/00146-7)