Internalization of immunoglobulins by endothelial cells in the liver, lung and kidney in hamster with visceral leishmaniasis

Abstract

SUMMARY OF THESIS*MATHIAS, Regiane -Internalização de imunoglobulinas por células endoteliais do fígado, pulmão e rim na leishmaniose visceral em hamster.

Detection of immunoglobulin G in the lung and liver of hamsters with visceral leishmaniasis

“…We have been working with the hypothesis that internalization of immunoglobulins by endothelial cells might have some role in the pathogenesis of visceral leishmaniasis. We observed in vitro internalization by endothelial cells of serum IgG from visceral leishmaniasis patients (19) and we preliminarily detected by transmission electron microscopy the presence of IgG in endothelial cells in the liver of hamsters with visceral leishmaniasis processed for immunodetection using anti-hamster immunoglobulin antibody and protein A-gold (20). If this alternative mechanism is present in visceral leishmaniasis, it might play a role in the early phase of infection when IgG deposition is more evident.…”