Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in skin lesions of leprosy patients: the difference between paucibacillary and multibacillary cases

摘要

Background and objective: Mycobacterium leprae causes leprosy, which is a chronic granulomatous disease showing a wide spectrum of skin lesions and typically involves peripheral nerves. The role of the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the pathogenesis of various clinico-pathological forms of leprosy has not yet been fully explored. Our study had the objective to evaluate the expression of MMP-9 in cutaneous lesions of paucibacillary and multibacillary leprosy patients.