Association of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines and Iron Regulatory Protein 2 (IRP2) with Leishmania Burden in Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis

作者：Porfirio do Nascimento Paulo Ricardo; Arantes Martins Daniella Regina; Gois Monteiro Gloria Regina; Queiroz Paula Vivianne; Freire Neto Francisco Paulo; Queiroz Jose Wilton; Morais Lima Adila Lorena; Bezerra Jeronimo Selma Maria

来源：PLos One, 2013, 8(10).

DOI：10.1371/journal.pone.0073873

Leishmania infantum infection in humans and dogs can evolve with a wide range of clinical presentations, varying from asymptomatic infections to visceral leishmaniasis. We hypothesized that the immune response elicited by L. infantum infection could modulate whether the host will remain asymptomatic or progress to disease. A total of 44 dogs naturally infected with L. infantum were studied. Leishmania burden was estimated in the blood and spleen by qPCR. The expression of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-10 and Iron Regulatory Protein 2 (IRP2) were determined in the spleen by quantitative PCR. Sera cytokines were evaluated by ELISA. Dogs were grouped in quartiles according parasite burden. Increased expression of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha was associated with reduced Leishmania burden, whereas increased IL-10 and IRP2 expressions were associated with higher Leishmania load. Increased plasma albumin and IFN-gamma expression explained 22.8% of the decrease in parasite burden in the spleen. These data confirm that lower IFN-gamma response and higher IL-10 correlated with increased parasite load and severity of the visceral leishmaniasis in dogs. The balance between the branches of immune response and the intracellular iron availability could determine, in part, the course of Leishmania infection.

• 出版日期2013-10-11