Comparison of the immune profile of nonhealing cutaneous Leishmaniasis patients with those with active lesions and those who have recovered from infection

TY - JOUR

T1 - Comparison of the immune profile of nonhealing cutaneous Leishmaniasis patients with those with active lesions and those who have recovered from infection

AU - Ajdary, S

AU - Alimohammadian, M H

AU - Eslami, M B

AU - Kemp, K

AU - Kharazmi, A

N1 - Keywords: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Animals; Antigens, CD4; Antigens, CD8; Cell Division; Female; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Immunophenotyping; Interferon-gamma; Interleukin-10; Interleukin-4; Leishmania major; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Lymphocyte Subsets; Male; Middle Aged; T-Lymphocytes; Th1 Cells

PY - 2000

Y1 - 2000

N2 - Th1-type cellular immune responses play a critical role in protection against infection with Leishmania parasites, whereas activation of Th2-type cells results in progressive disease. Cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major is often a self-healing disease; however, persistent nonhealing forms are also known. In the present study, we have described cell-mediated immune responses in nonhealing patients by measuring T-cell proliferation, cytokine production, and phenotypic characterization of these cells. The responses were compared with those of patients with active lesions, patients who had recovered from infection, and healthy controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with active lesions and recovered donors proliferated vigorously and produced Th1-type cytokine when stimulated with L. major antigens, whereas in nonhealing patients the proliferative responses were significantly lower and showed a Th2-type response to Leishmania antigens. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) production was not a feature of L. major stimulation. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that L. major antigen induced proliferation of the CD4-positive population and that these cells were the major source of gamma interferon and IL-4. These results show a distinct dichotomy in the cytokine response to L. major infection.

AB - Th1-type cellular immune responses play a critical role in protection against infection with Leishmania parasites, whereas activation of Th2-type cells results in progressive disease. Cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major is often a self-healing disease; however, persistent nonhealing forms are also known. In the present study, we have described cell-mediated immune responses in nonhealing patients by measuring T-cell proliferation, cytokine production, and phenotypic characterization of these cells. The responses were compared with those of patients with active lesions, patients who had recovered from infection, and healthy controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with active lesions and recovered donors proliferated vigorously and produced Th1-type cytokine when stimulated with L. major antigens, whereas in nonhealing patients the proliferative responses were significantly lower and showed a Th2-type response to Leishmania antigens. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) production was not a feature of L. major stimulation. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that L. major antigen induced proliferation of the CD4-positive population and that these cells were the major source of gamma interferon and IL-4. These results show a distinct dichotomy in the cytokine response to L. major infection.

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 10722561

SN - 0019-9567

VL - 68

SP - 1760

EP - 1764

JO - Infection and Immunity

JF - Infection and Immunity

IS - 4

ER -