@article{94126,
  keywords = {Cathelicidin, leprosy, Leprosy drug therapy, M. leprae, Vitamin D(3)},
  author = {Grossi de Oliveira AL and Chaves A and Cardoso M and Pinheiro G and de Jesus A and Grossi M and Lyon S and Bueno L and Rocha M and Fujiwara R and Menezes C},
  title = {Hypovitaminosis D and reduced cathelicidin are strongly correlated during the multidrug therapy against leprosy.},
  abstract = {<p>Mycobacterium leprae infection depends on the competence of the host immune defense to induce effective protection against this intracellular pathogen. The present study investigated the serum levels of vitamin D and the antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin, to determine the statistical correlation between them in leprosy patients before and post-six months of multidrug therapy (MDT), household contacts, and healthy individuals. Previous studies associated these molecules with high risks to develop mycobacterial diseases, such as tuberculosis and leprosy. A total of 34 leprosy patients [paucibacillary (n = 14), multibacillary (n = 20)], and 25 household contacts were recruited. Eighteen healthy adults were selected as a control group. Serum concentrations of vitamin D (25(OH)VD) and cathelicidin were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit, respectively. There were no significant differences in serum levels of 25(OH)VD between all groups, and the overall prevalence rate of vitamin D deficiency was 67.1%. Cathelicidin levels were significantly lower in both untreated and treated patients when compared to controls and household contacts (p < 0.05). Strong correlations between hypovitaminosis D and reduced cathelicidin in untreated (r = 0.86) and post-six months of MDT (r = 0.79) leprosy patients were observed. These results suggest that vitamin D status and cathelicidin levels are strongly correlated during multidrug therapy for leprosy and nutritional supplementation from the beginning of treatment could strengthen the immune response against leprosy.</p>},
  year = {2020},
  journal = {Microbial pathogenesis},
  pages = {104373},
  month = {07/2020},
  issn = {1096-1208},
  doi = {10.1016/j.micpath.2020.104373},
  language = {eng},
}