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.
Highlights
Cytokines 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)
Resistance to infection by Leishmania parasites is mediated by interferon gamma (IFN-γ) that stimulates macrophages to produce nitric oxide (NO) which is essential for leishmanicidal activity [8]
This study found a high expression of Th1 response cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-12p40) compared to Th2 type (IL-4) cytokines in CL lesions
Summary
Cytokines 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). Cytokines play a vital role in the host immune response to Leishmania infection by directing the development of protective and non-protective immunities during the infection [3]. These inflammatory responses mediate disease progression and clinical outcome. According to McDowell et al (2002), differences in the mechanism of interaction with phagocytic cells between different Leishmania species may result in healing or non-healing forms of the disease, dependent up on their ability to Galgamuwa et al BMC Microbiology (2019) 19:14 activate Th1 response [6]. Increased expression of IL-4 and IL-10 was found to be linked with failed healing and disease progression [5, 9]
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