Modern Pathology - Localization of Propionibacterium acnes in granulomas supports a possible etiologic link between sarcoidosis and the bacterium
Many studies have suggested a bacterial cause for sarcoidosis.
In this study published in Modern Pathology (May 2012), Japanese scientists tested the hypothesis that P. acnes is an etiologic agent of sarcoidosis. They found greater than 50% reactivity: 57% in lung tissue and 88% in lymph node. They also found bodies that might be intact forms of intracellular bacteria, because they lacked a cell wall structure.
The P. acnes trigger-factor protein induced pulmonary granulomas only in mice with latent P. acnes infection in their lungs. Eradication of P. acnes by antibiotics in these mice prevented granulomas, which might explain the recently reported effectiveness of tetracyclines for treating sarcoidosis.
Localization of Propionibacterium acnes in granulomas supports a possible etiologic link between sarcoidosis and the bacterium
No comments:
Post a Comment