Research Article: Whole blood transcriptomics reveals the enrichment of neutrophil activation pathways during erythema nodosum leprosum reaction

Abstract


Introduction: Patients with the multibacillary form of leprosy can develop reactional episodes of acute inflammation, known as erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL), which are characterized by the appearance of painful cutaneous nodules and systemic symptoms. Neutrophils have been recognized to play a role in the pathogenesis of ENL, and recent global transcriptomic analysis revealed neutrophil-related processes as a signature of ENL skin lesions.