Abstract
The immune response in leishmaniasis may result in a polarization of the T lymphocyte subpopulation, altering cell phenotype and resulting in immune protection or disease exacerbation. Leishmania may persist in the body either during asymptomatic infections or after treatment, which represents high risk under immunosuppression. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of infection with immunosuppression by dexamethasone associated with pentoxifylline on animal weight, spleen weight, spleen and hepatic parasitic load and immunopathology, as well as the IFN-γ and IL-10 production in spleen cell culture of Balb/c mice infected with Leishmania chagasi. The infection did not cause body weight gain in animals, but both the weight and size of the spleen were increased. The immunosuppression using dexamethasone associated with pentoxifylline affected body weight gain and spleen weight and size in both infected and non-infected animals. The immunosuppression did not significantly alter the course of the splenic or hepatic parasite burden. Dexamethasone and pentoxifylline significantly affected cytokine production, but did not influence the Th1/Th2 ratio in infected animals.
Highlights
Leishmaniasis is caused by intracellular protozoa of the genus Leishmania, order Kinetoplastida, family Trypanosomatidae
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of infection with immunosuppression by dexamethasone associated with pentoxifylline on animal weight, spleen weight, spleen and hepatic parasitic load and immunopathology, as well as the IFN-γ and IL-10 production in spleen cell culture of Balb/c mice infected with Leishmania chagasi
The most studied visceral leishmaniasis model is the Balb/c mouse lineage infected with L. donovani or L. chagasi [6]
Summary
Leishmaniasis is caused by intracellular protozoa of the genus Leishmania, order Kinetoplastida, family Trypanosomatidae. They are heteroxenous parasites that require two hosts to complete their life cycle, namely a vertebrate and an invertebrate, hematophagus flies of the genus Phlebotomus, order Diptera [1]. Recent studies – especially concerning leishmaniasis agents in humans, i.e. L_major – define the Th1/Th2 paradigm as indicator of the resistance/susceptibility to the infection as well as indicate the role of IL-12 and IL-4, which is to provoke the development of Th1 and Th2 cells [4]. The course of visceral infection by L. chagasi in a Balb/c mouse strictly mimics the infection by L. donovani, since the mouse initially expresses a susceptible phenotype, but subsequently develops its self-cure [7]. The persistence of parasites in this organ is followed by failure to form granulomas and splenomegaly provoked by alteration of lymphatic tissue microstructure and augmentation of hematopoietic activity [11]
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