Importantly, the association of Th17 cell signatures in leprosy patients was observed in patients who did not show the conventional Th1 and Th2 phenotypes but had a non polarized subset of CD4+T cells (Th0 type) which expressed and secreted IFN-γ and IL-4/IL-5 in antigen stimulated PBMC cultures. This evidence concerns the gene IL5 and leprosy.