Exploring Immune Mechanisms in Leprosy: The Role of Serum Interleukin-17 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha in the Immunopathogenesis of the Disease in Sudanese Patients
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. This study aimed to compare serum interleukin-17 (IL-17) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels among Sudanese patients with and without leprosy to assess their impact on disease immunopathogenesis. METHODS: A case-control cross-sectional study was conducted at Abu Rouf Leprosy Clinic and Khartoum Dermatology Teaching Hospital between August 2018 and October 2020. IL-17 and TNF-α levels were quantified using Sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits (Sunlong Biotech, China). Statistical analyses were performed in SPSS v21. RESULTS: Leprosy patients had significantly lower mean IL-17 levels (1.6 ± 1.2 pg/ml) than healthy controls (5.5 ± 2.6 pg/ml, P < 0.001), whereas TNF-α was higher in patients (103.1 ± 25.5 ng/L) than controls (30.8 ± 15.1 ng/L, P < 0.001). IL-17 correlated negatively with disease duration, while TNF-α showed a positive correlation (r = 0.201, P = 0.037). CONCLUSION: Cytokine dysregulation, particularly reduced IL-17 and elevated TNF-α, reflects distinct immune pathways in leprosy pathogenesis. These biomarkers may aid in assessing disease activity and treatment response.
Authors: Hassan Gumaa Mustafa Hamid, Ogail Yousif Dawod, Amar Babikir Elhussein, Mariam Siddig Balla Ali, Omar Elteyb Fadlelseed, Soad Mohammed Alfadol, Husham E. Homeida, Nahid Mahmoud Hassan Elamin, Salha Yahia Khalil, Abdullah Mohammed Qahl, Abdullah Shoei Sayd, Mashael Hakami, Rahika Ibrahim Zeleei, Abeer Omar Ahmed, Faisal Hassan Hakami, Fadia Abdalla Saeed Khairi, Aamir Abdullahi Hamzza, Mohammed Helmy Faris Shalayel
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4417523931