Leprosy Immunology
The clinical form of leprosy is determined by the host immune response. Tuberculoid leprosy involves a robust Th1 response with well-formed granulomas. Lepromatous leprosy has a Th2 response that promotes antibody production and downregula…
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The clinical form of leprosy is determined by the host immune response. Tuberculoid leprosy involves a robust Th1 response with well-formed granulomas. Lepromatous leprosy has a Th2 response that promotes antibody production and downregulates Th1-mediated cellular immunity. In lepromatous leprosy, lack of effective cellular immunity allows bacilli to proliferate and produces a positive smear. Interferon-gamma and interleukin-2 drive macrophage activation that contains the bacillus in tuberculoid leprosy.