Arginase Activity - A Marker of Disease Status in Patients with Visceral Leishmaniasis in Ethiopia

作者：Abebe Tamrat^*; Takele Yegnasew; Weldegebreal Teklu; Cloke Tom; Closs Ellen; Corset Camille; Hailu Asrat; Hailu Workagegnehu; Sisay Yifru; Corware Karina; Corset Margaux; Modolell Manuel; Munder Markus; Tacchini Cottier Fabienne; Mueller Ingrid; Kropf Pascale

来源：PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2013, 7(3): e2134.

DOI：10.1371/journal.pntd.0002134

The underlying mechanisms resulting in the profound immune suppression characteristic of human visceral leishmaniasis (VL) are not fully understood. Here, we tested the hypothesis that arginase, an enzyme associated with immunosuppression, is higher in patients with VL and contributes to impaired T cell responses. We recruited patients with VL before and after treatment and healthy controls and measured the arginase metabolism in the blood of these individuals. Our results show that arginase activity is significantly higher in the blood of patients with active VL as compared to controls. These high levels of arginase decline considerably once the patients are successfully treated. We identified the phenotype of arginase-expressing cells among PBMCs as neutrophils and show that their frequency was increased in PBMCs of patients before treatment; this coincides with reduced levels of L-arginine in the plasma and decreased expression levels of CD3 zeta in T cells.

• 出版日期2013-3