Background: is an intracellular bacillus that causes leprosy, a neglected disease that affects macrophages and Schwann cells. Leprosy reactions are acute inflammatory responses to mycobacterial antigens, classified as type1 (T1R), a predominant cellular immune response, or type2 (T2R), a humoral phenomenon, leading to a high number of bacilli in infected cells and nerve structures. Xenophagy is a type of selective autophagy that targets intracellular bacteria for lysosomal degradation; however, its immune mechanisms during leprosy reactions are still unclear. This review summarizes the relationship between the autophagic process and elimination during leprosy reactions.
Methods: Three databases, PubMed/Medline (n = 91), Scopus (n = 73), and ScienceDirect (n = 124), were searched. After applying the eligibility criteria, articles were selected for independent peer reviewers in August 2023.
Results: From a total of 288 studies retrieved, eight were included. In multibacillary (MB) patients who progressed to T1R, xenophagy blockade and increased inflammasome activation were observed, with IL-1β secretion before the reactional episode occurrence. On the other hand, recent data actually observed increased IL-15 levels before the reaction began, as well as IFN-γ production and xenophagy induction.
Conclusion: Our search results showed a dichotomy in the T1R development and their relationship with xenophagy. No T2R studies were found.
}, year = {2023}, journal = {Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {12}, pages = {1-14}, month = {12/2023}, issn = {2076-0817}, url = {https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10747110/pdf/pathogens-12-01455.pdf}, doi = {10.3390/pathogens12121455}, language = {eng}, }