IL-22 in Mycobacterium leprae-induced Nerve injury

The neurotropism of M. leprae is a unique characteristic that distinguishes it from other mycobacteria and is also the main cause of deformity in patients. However, the mechanism of peripheral nerve injury is still unclear. In the present study, immunohistochemistry and qPCR showed that the skin lesions of leprosy patients were significantly higher than those of other mycobacterium infected skin lesions, and IL-22 was concentrated around the cutaneous nerves. Further study found that IL-22 is involved in disease by regulating neuroinflammation and promoting apoptosis through the JAK-STAT pathway.