Whole blood RNA signatures in leprosy patients identify reversal reactions before clinical onset: a prospective, multicenter study.

ABSTRACT: Early diagnosis of leprosy is challenging, particularly its inflammatory reactions, the major cause of irreversible neuropathy in leprosy. Current diagnostics cannot identify which patients are at risk of developing reactions. This study assessed blood RNA expression levels as potential biomarkers for leprosy. Prospective cohorts of newly diagnosed leprosy patients, including reactions, and healthy controls were recruited in Bangladesh, Brazil, Ethiopia and Nepal. RNA expression in 1,090 whole blood samples was determined for 103 target genes for innate and adaptive immune profiling by dual color Reverse-Transcription Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (dcRT-MLPA) followed by cluster analysis. We identified transcriptomic biomarkers associated with leprosy disease, different

SUBMITTER: Tio-Coma M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6884598 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature