The Body's Immune and Endocrine Systems Reactions to Leprosy
IMMUNE
The defense to leprosy begins with the skin which acts as a protective covering. Healthy skin prevents bacteria from entering the body. However bacteria can still enter through cuts, your eyes, nose, mouth etc. If invading germs make it through the skin into the body several types of defense cells take over.
The body’s protective mechanism has two aspects, specific and non-specific. The non-specific large defense cells called macrophages, through the process of phagocytosis, sweep through the bloodstream to ingest and digest any foreign bodies they may encounter. The specific defense system can only recognize foreign bodies if it has experienced in the identifications of certain antigens.
In the case lepromatous leprosy, the cells which are meant to kill of the bacilli, actually transport them around the body and may provide an environment in which they may be able to multiply. In lepromatous patients, macrophages can ingest M.lepre but cannot digest it because there are no T-Type lymphocytes to assist the macrophages to produce the need enzymes.
There are two main types of immunity. Type one is called Humoral Immunity and the second is Cell-Mediated Immunity (CMI). Humoral Immunity is certain antibodies that are generated by the body when invaded by antigens. It’s called Humoral Immunity because the antibodies circulate in a fluid called Humor. CMI is when some invading foreign bodies stimulate the production of certain special defense cells which mobilize to attack the antigens, establishing severe inflammatory reactions at the same time. CMI is essential for defense against leprosy.
Where antigens accumulate special cells, mainly lymphocytes, collect. In the case of leprosy the sites are at peripheral nerves, particularly at the nerve’s Schwann cell. The smaller defense cells called lymphocytes have not phagocytic property therefore cannot ingest or digest the M.lepre. The lymphocytes role is to secrete chemicals to attract the macrophages to the antigen build-up sites, and also assist the macrophages to engulf and digest the bacilli.
CMI is the protective immunity needed against leprosy and fortunately 90%-95% of people have it, but in varying degrees. At one end of the immunological spectrum, the leprosy patients with well-established CMI but may have little Humoral Immunity have leprosy in the form of tuberculoid leprosy. However at the other end of the spectrum, lepromatous leprosy is the opposite, well-established Humoral Immunity but no CMI. Lepromatous leprosy is the infectious form.
The defense to leprosy begins with the skin which acts as a protective covering. Healthy skin prevents bacteria from entering the body. However bacteria can still enter through cuts, your eyes, nose, mouth etc. If invading germs make it through the skin into the body several types of defense cells take over.
The body’s protective mechanism has two aspects, specific and non-specific. The non-specific large defense cells called macrophages, through the process of phagocytosis, sweep through the bloodstream to ingest and digest any foreign bodies they may encounter. The specific defense system can only recognize foreign bodies if it has experienced in the identifications of certain antigens.
In the case lepromatous leprosy, the cells which are meant to kill of the bacilli, actually transport them around the body and may provide an environment in which they may be able to multiply. In lepromatous patients, macrophages can ingest M.lepre but cannot digest it because there are no T-Type lymphocytes to assist the macrophages to produce the need enzymes.
There are two main types of immunity. Type one is called Humoral Immunity and the second is Cell-Mediated Immunity (CMI). Humoral Immunity is certain antibodies that are generated by the body when invaded by antigens. It’s called Humoral Immunity because the antibodies circulate in a fluid called Humor. CMI is when some invading foreign bodies stimulate the production of certain special defense cells which mobilize to attack the antigens, establishing severe inflammatory reactions at the same time. CMI is essential for defense against leprosy.
Where antigens accumulate special cells, mainly lymphocytes, collect. In the case of leprosy the sites are at peripheral nerves, particularly at the nerve’s Schwann cell. The smaller defense cells called lymphocytes have not phagocytic property therefore cannot ingest or digest the M.lepre. The lymphocytes role is to secrete chemicals to attract the macrophages to the antigen build-up sites, and also assist the macrophages to engulf and digest the bacilli.
CMI is the protective immunity needed against leprosy and fortunately 90%-95% of people have it, but in varying degrees. At one end of the immunological spectrum, the leprosy patients with well-established CMI but may have little Humoral Immunity have leprosy in the form of tuberculoid leprosy. However at the other end of the spectrum, lepromatous leprosy is the opposite, well-established Humoral Immunity but no CMI. Lepromatous leprosy is the infectious form.
EDOCRINE
Leprosy affects the peripheral nerves, skin and multiple internal organs. This makes its clinical recognition difficult. The endocrine manifestations caused by leprosy have been greatly underestimated, even by specialists. Endocrine changes present during leprosy may include hypogonadism, sterility and osteoporosis.
Leprosy affects the peripheral nerves, skin and multiple internal organs. This makes its clinical recognition difficult. The endocrine manifestations caused by leprosy have been greatly underestimated, even by specialists. Endocrine changes present during leprosy may include hypogonadism, sterility and osteoporosis.