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Transcription Factor HES-1: How Is the Expression of This Transcriptional Factor in Paucibacillary Leprosy Patients?

Héctor Serrano-Coll1,2, Juan Pablo Ospina-Gómez3, Carolina Salamanca2

  • 1Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical-Universidad CES, Medellín, Colombia.

The American Journal of Dermatopathology
|January 20, 2023
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

HES-1, a Notch pathway component, is reduced in paucibacillary (PB) leprosy skin. This finding suggests HES-1 can serve as a diagnostic biomarker for both PB and multibacillary (MB) leprosy.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis.
  • The Notch signaling pathway component, HES-1, has been implicated in leprosy pathogenesis.
  • HES-1 may be a useful target for leprosy detection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression levels of HES-1 in the skin of patients diagnosed with paucibacillary (PB) leprosy.
  • To evaluate HES-1 as a potential diagnostic biomarker for leprosy.

Main Methods:

  • A descriptive, observational study involving 45 leprosy skin samples (30 MB, 15 PB).
  • Immunohistochemistry was used to assess HES-1 and S-100 expression.
  • Statistical analysis compared findings in PB leprosy patients to a control group.

Main Results:

  • Reduced HES-1 expression was observed in the epidermis (66.7%), eccrine glands (80%), and hair follicles (62.5%) of PB leprosy patients.
  • These reductions were statistically significant compared to controls (P < 0.0001).
  • HES-1 demonstrated comparable utility to S-100 in detecting both MB and PB leprosy.

Conclusions:

  • HES-1, a transcriptional factor, is downregulated in the epidermis and skin appendages of PB leprosy patients.
  • HES-1 shows potential as a valuable biomarker for diagnosing both paucibacillary and multibacillary leprosy.
  • Further research into HES-1's role could enhance leprosy diagnostics.

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