Soluble tumor necrosis factor alpha receptors in sera from leprosy patients

Abstract

Serum levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor alpha receptor I (sTNF- RI) were elevated in patients with lepromatous (LL) reactional-state type II leprosy, and sTNF-RII levels were increased in patients with full tuberculoid (TT) or LL type H leprosy. The sTNF-R in sera from patients with type H leprosy, but not other forms of leprosy, inhibited recombinant TNF cytolytic activities in vitro. This suggests that sTNF-R regulatory activities are partially impaired in patients with leprosy.