desoxyfructo-serotonin and Leprosy

To examine the anti-leprosy effect of deoxyfructoserotonin the drug was given in a dose of 10 mg/kg for 6 months to 6 patients with active lepromatous leprosy, in accordance with the WHO-THELEP protocol. Clinical and histological assessment and mouse foot-pad studies suggest that the drug has some anti-leprosy effect.

Topics: Adult; Biopsy; Capsules; Clinical Trials as Topic; Humans; Isoniazid; Leprostatic Agents; Leprosy; Male; Serotonin; Time Factors

Topics: Animals; Cells, Cultured; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Leprosy; Macrophages; Mice; Mycobacterium leprae; Schwann Cells; Sciatic Nerve; Serotonin

The plasma of leprosy patients contains high levels of mucoproteins which are deficient in sialic acid. However, due to the increased mucoprotein level, the total sialic acid content of leprous plasma, calculated on protein, is increased when compared with normal human plasma. The low serotonin uptake observed with isolated platelets is probably due to their low sialic acid content. The inability of normal human plasma to correct the diminished serotonin uptake by isolated leprous platelets is in favor of a definite structural change in leprous platelets, related to their low sialic acid content. In patients with active disease and in those with lepra reactions, leprous plasma itself can correct the diminished uptake of serotonin by the isolated platelets. In patients with subsided lepra reactions, the leprous plasma is much less effective. In severe cases, where serotonin uptake is decreased even in platelet rich plasma, desoxyfructo-serotonin increased the uptake of serotonin.

Topics: Blood Platelets; Fructose; Humans; Leprosy; Mucoproteins; Serotonin; Sialic Acids