Cytokines and NO in American tegumentary leishmaniasis patients: Profiles in active disease, after therapy and in self-healed individuals

Abstract

Studies suggest the influence of immune response on the successful treatment of American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL), and indicate the existence of protective immunity in self-healed patients. Thus, the aim of this work was to quantify interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL-) 10, IL-17, IL-22 and nitric oxide (NO) in culture supernatants of PBMC from patients with active disease (AD), after treatment (AT), and from self-healed (SH) and healthy subjects (CT), in response to Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis insoluble antigen (AgIns). All groups of patients produced IFN-γ, indicating a predominant proinflammatory profile. AD and AT patients presented TNF-α levels, with a slight increase after therapy, whereas it was weakly quantified in SH. Interestingly, NO secretion was significant in these individuals, whereas IL-17 appeared in low levels and seems to be regulated by NO. Although IL-22 was detected in AD, its role is still questionable. The presence of IL-10 in all groups of patients suggests that the cytokine plays distinct roles in the disease. These results indicate that specific cellular immunity takes part against Leishmania, but with some similarities between the different clinical states herein described; these mediators seem to be necessary for the cure to occur.

Age Modifies the Immunologic Response and Clinical Presentation of American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis

“…26 There is also evidence that IL-10 plays a major role in the pathogenesis of the disease. 27,28 The IL-10 is the most important regulatory cytokine in leishmaniasis responsible for downregulating the proinflammatory effects of IFNγ and TNF. The IL-10 may also facilitate parasite growth and replication by decreasing the ability of macrophages to kill Leishmania.…”

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Following Local Trauma: A Case Report

“…The patient developed CL lesion at the same site of the induced trauma, with short incubation period, as stated in literature [3,11]. The Leishmania species responsible for such lesions is already expected to be Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, since it is the most prevalent species in Brazil and in Distrito Federal [4,17].…”

“…Even though, the certain about its pathogenesis is not enough yet [2]. Gender, skin temperature [3], polymorphisms of the species [2,4], host's immune response [4], site of inoculation [5] have already being implicated, but poorly understood [5]. Thus, this study aims to report a case of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis triggered after local trauma.…”

“…Considering that Leishmaniasis lesions are usually developed where promastigote forms are inoculated by the Phlebotominae [4]. The finding of Leishmaniasis lesions following trauma may contribute to a greater comprehension of the metastasis-like formation process during Leishmania infection.…”

American tegumentary leishmaniasis: mRNA expression for Th1 and Treg mediators are predominant in patients with recent active disease

“…Thus, this response has been evaluated by our group in the presence of antigenic fractions of L (V.) braziliensis by cytokine and NO measurement and cell immunophenotyping in patients with different clinical status (Assis Souza and others, 2012;De Assis Souza and others, 2013;Brelaz de Castro and others, 2012). However, gene expression analysis by quantitative polymerase chain reaction concerning the immunological mediators involved in human ATL is not frequently performed, and even less regarding Th17 and Treg components.…”