Assessment of intralesional cytokine profile of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania donovani in Sri Lanka

Abstract

BackgroundCytokines play a vital role in the host immune response to infection by initiating the healing process and/or accelerating the progression of the disease in cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Very little evidence is available on cytokine profiles and their regulatory function in CL patients in Sri Lanka. The aim of this study was to determine the cytokine expression pattern of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-11 and IL-12p40 in CL patients and in healthy volunteers. Patients with suspected CL lesions attending to the Dermatology Clinic at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital were included in the study. Reverse transcription real time polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR) was performed to determine the relative expression level of target cytokines. Expression levels were quantified by 2- ∆∆CT equation.ResultsThe expression of cytokines IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-11 and IL-12p40 were significantly higher in CL patients compared to healthy volunteers (p < 0.05). There was a significant association between the expression of IFN-γ and the duration of the lesion (p = 0.021). Wet CL lesions showed significantly higher expression of IL-4, IL-11 and IL-12p40 (p = 0.039, 0.018 and 0.021 respectively) compared to dry lesions. Papulo-nodular lesions showed significantly high expression of IFN-γ (p = 0.023). However, cytokine expression was not significantly associated with the number, size and the locations of lesions.ConclusionsThe expression levels of all cytokines tested in the present study were significantly (p < 0.05) high in CL patients. Th1 response (IFN-γ and IL-12p40) had higher expression levels compared to Th2 (IL-4) and IL-11 in CL patients.

Can Bacterial Endophytes Be Used as a Promising Bio-Inoculant for the Mitigation of Salinity Stress in Crop Plants?—A Global Meta-Analysis of the Last Decade (2011–2020)

“…This meta-analysis showed that bacterial inoculation improved chlorophyll and carotenoid contents under both no-stress and salinity-stress conditions. Moreover, our meta-analysis evidenced that under salinity stress conditions, endophytic bacterial inoculation increases chlorophyll contents in a greater extent compared to no-stress conditions, in line with recent findings [ 23 , 63 ]. This suggests that improvements in biomass and other morphological-related parameters of salinity-stressed plants might be attributed to an increased photosynthetic activity stimulated by the application of endophytic bacteria.…”

“…Among all plant-associated bacteria, endophytes show to relive the impacts of salt stress in plants by inducing osmotic adjustment, detoxification, modulation of phytohormones, and acquisition of nutrients [ 17 , 18 , 19 ]. Endophytic bacteria with 1-aminocylopropane−1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase and indole−3-acetic acid (IAA) production, nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, and siderophore production traits have shown to promote the osmotic or ionic adaptation of host plants [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. However, the exact endophytic bacterial-mediated mechanisms underlying salt stress alleviation remain largely unknown [ 25 ].…”

Molecular signatures of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in the lesions of patients infected with Leishmania tropica

“…Depending on the immune status of the host and the Leishmania species, TLRs may have protective or deleterious effect on disease outcome 29,30 . IFNs can have beneficial or deleterious effect on the elimination of the parasite by macrophages, depending on the type of IFN produced and the stage of infection 31,32 . The activation of macrophage leading to killing Leishmania is initiated by ROS production and activation of Th1 immune responses 33 .…”

A Comprehensive Review of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka and Identification of Existing Knowledge Gaps

“…Wet CL lesions (moist ulcers with purulent exudates) showed significantly higher expression of IL-4, IL-11 and IL-12p40 compared to dry lesions (crusted scabs). Papulonodular lesions showed significantly higher expression of IFN-γ [33,34]. Significantly elevated tissue expression of IFN-γ and tumour necrosis factor TNF-α was seen in lesions that presented later than 6 months from the time of infection [33].…”