Cellular immune response profile in patients with American tegumentary leishmaniasis prior and post chemotherapy treatment

Abstract

In this study, we have the objective of evaluating the lymphoproliferative response and determining interferon (IFN)‐γ and interleukin (IL)‐10 cytokine production in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of patients with American tegumentary leishmaniasis prior and post 12 months of chemotherapy treatment with meglumine antimoniate compared with the PBMC of noninfected donors. Lymphoproliferation, such as cytokine production, was evaluated through in vitro stimulus with the soluble antigenic fraction from Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis promastigotes (1.25 µg/ml) and Concanavalin A (2.5 µg/ml). Patients showed a significant lymphoproliferative response prior and post treatment compared with the control group. Similar result, prior to chemotherapy treatment, was observed in IFN‐γ and IL‐10 production when patients were compared with the control group. After chemotherapy treatment, PBMC lymphoproliferative response of the patients revealed an increase, whereas patients have shown a decrease in IFN‐γ levels and an increase in IL‐10, although without statistical difference. These results may indicate that the patients produced a specific cellular response to the soluble antigenic fraction suggesting that besides Th1 and Th2 dichotomy, immunological regulation mechanisms with the participation of memory T cells and regulatory T cells could be present in the clinical evolution of these patients. This understanding will allow the study and identification of new L. (V.) braziliensis molecules potentially candidates to vaccines. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 23:63–69, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Histopathological and immunohistochemical aspects of American cutaneous leishmaniasis before and after different treatments*

“…10 However, it is assumed that infection with Leishmania induces a mixture of Th1 and Th2 responses. 11 …”

Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis antigenic fractions: the immune response characterization of patients at the initial phase of disease

“…These polyclonal mitogens have been widely used on in vitro studies for cellular activation, but as they stimulate different cellular pathways and since not all T cells undergo a likewise process, these may account for the differences observed in our study (7). Other possible explanation is the fact that the patients had an already Th2 When analyzing immunophenotypically the percentage of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells and the CD4/CD8 ratio, we observed an expansion of CD4 + T cells, in a significant manner when compared with the control group being similar results obtained by other authors studying leishmaniasis infection (6,9,10,12).…”

“…Obtaining the PBMC PBMC was obtained from forty milliliters of heparinized blood according to Reis et al (7). Cell Culture and Flow Cytometry PBMCs (4x10 6 per tube/ml) were incubated in with Leishmania soluble (SOL, 1.25μg/ml) and insoluble (INS, 2.25μg/ml) antigenic fractions (37ºC/ 5% CO 2 ), for 48 hours.…”

“…The American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) is caused by different species of the genus Leishmania, and Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis is the prevalent etiologic agent in Brazil, in the Northeast region and in the state of Pernambuco (2,5,7). The clinical manifestations may vary and are dependent on the characteristics of the parasite, vector and the vertebrate host, including the immunological status (4,7,8).…”

OX40+ T lymphocytes and IFN-γ are associated with American tegumentary leishmaniasis pathogenesis

“…4 Recently, some of these studies investigated the ATL pathogenesis in humans, however the immune response remains to be elucidated in human infection. 5,6 …”