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Measuring the 50% Haemolytic Complement CH50 Activity of Serum
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Complement activation in leprosy: a retrospective study shows elevated circulating terminal complement complex in
N Bahia El Idrissi1, S Hakobyan2, V Ramaglia1
1Department of Genome Analysis, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, 1105, AZ, the Netherlands.
Clinical and Experimental Immunology
|January 11, 2016
Summary
Researchers explored the complement system
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Complement System Biology
Background:
- Leprosy diagnosis and stratification currently rely on acquired immunity markers.
- The role of innate immunity, specifically the complement system, in leprosy is under-investigated.
- Understanding innate immunity's role may improve patient stratification and reaction prediction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if systemic levels of complement activation products and regulators can stratify leprosy patients.
- To determine the association between complement system components and the reactional state in leprosy.
- To explore novel biomarkers for identifying patients at risk of leprosy reactions.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of serum samples from two leprosy cohorts (Bangladesh and Ethiopia).
- Quantification of complement activation products (terminal complement complex [TCC], C4d, iC3b) and a regulator (clusterin).
- Comparison of complement levels between leprosy patients (pauci-bacillary and multi-bacillary, with/without reaction) and endemic controls.
Main Results:
- Elevated levels of TCC, C4d, and iC3b were observed in Bangladeshi patients with reaction compared to controls.
- Clusterin levels were increased in multi-bacillary patients, regardless of reactional state.
- Ethiopian cohort analysis confirmed significantly higher serum TCC levels in patients with reactions versus those without.
Conclusions:
- Systemic complement activation products, particularly TCC, show potential as biomarkers for leprosy.
- Serum TCC levels may aid in identifying leprosy patients at risk of developing reactions.
- Innate immunity, via the complement system, plays a role in leprosy stratification and reaction development.
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