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

Abstract

BACKGROUNDLeishmaniases are zoonoses considered a public health problem, representing a complex group of diseases with a broad clinical spectrum and epidemiological diversity. Leishmaniasis is caused by several species of protozoa of the genus Leishmania. The evolution of the pathology and the resolution of the leishmaniasis are dependent mainly on the Leishmania species involved, although the cytokine profile plays an important role in the development of the immune response. OBJECTIVESThe purpose of our study was to evaluate the immune response of patients affected by lesions of cutaneous leishmaniasis by immunostaining of the OX40, CD20, IFN-γ and IL-4 proteins. METHODSThe tissue samples were collected from indolent skin ulcers confirmed as cutaneous leishmaniasis of 41 patients aged between six and 90 years. The lesions were submitted to OX40, CD20, INF-γ and IL-4 immuno-labeling. RESULTSWe observed a statistically significant higher expression of IFN-γ compared with IL-4 (p=0.009). Besides, OX40 had higher expression when compared with CD20 (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONThe present study indicates that the immune response in lesions of cutaneous leishmaniasis is associated with a healing process, which can be explained by the higher expression of IFN-γ when compared with IL4 protein levels.

Prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in suspected population of District Peshawar Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan

“…Leishmaniasis can be presented as a model for other parasitic diseases [2]. To understand the developmental processes, mice and rats are being used for experiments [3]…”