Comparison of Immune Regulatory Factors in Acute and Chronic Lesions of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Due to Leishmania Major



Hoseini SG¹ ; Javanmard SH² ; Hejazi SH³ ; Rafiei L² ; Zarkesh SH⁴ ; Karbalaii K⁵ ; Khamesipour A⁶ Show Affiliations
Source: Journal of Research in Medical Sciences Published:2014

Abstract

Background: Adaptipression in chronic lesions, function of Tregs in persistent infection is not clear. ve immune response is an important factor in the healing process and development of protection in cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Little information is available in human CL about the importance of the balance between eff ector and regulatory immune responses. Th erefore, the aim of this study was to asses messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of interleukin-10 (IL-10), IL-4, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) (as a marker of regulatory T cells) in acute and chronic CL lesions caused by Leishmania major compared with normal skin samples. Materials and Methods: Th irty biopsies were obtained from CL patients with acute lesions (AL, n = 13), chronic lesions (CH, n = 11) and healthy volunteers (n = 6). Relative expressions of target genes were determined by means of reverse transcription real time polymerase chain reaction and were compared with the controls. Results: Expression of Foxp3, IL-4, and IFN-γ were significantly more in CH than AL group of patients (Foxp3: Median 0.48, inter-quartile range 0.32-0.76 [arbitrary units] for AL, and 0.97 (0.75-1.30) for CH, P = 0.006; IFN-γ: 45.98 (33.39-173.48) for AL, and 200.53 (97.49-361.76) for CH, P = 0.023; IL-4: 0.49 (0.34-2.16) for AL, and 2.14 (1.30-7.11) for CH, P = 0.021). Expression of TGF-β was not significantly diff erent between groups. Conclusion: Th e results indicate that IL-4 secretion at the site of L. major infection rather than low IFN-γ production might have a role in prolongation of disease. Despite a moderate increase of Foxp3 ex.