Human_Leishmaniasis@cytokines.bahia.br

The cell-mediated immune response is critical in the resistance to and recovery from leishmaniasis. Cytokines are central elements in mounting an immune response and have received a great deal of attention in both human and experimental leishmaniasis. IFN-<FONT FACE="Symbol">g</font> is responsible for macrophage activation leading to leishmanicidal mechanisms. Understanding the balance of cytokines that lead to enhanced production of or synergize with IFN-<FONT FACE="Symbol">g</font>, and those cytokines that counterbalance its effects is fundamental for developing rational immunotherapeutic or immunoprophylactic approaches to leishmaniasis. Here we focus on the cytokine balance in human leishmaniasis, particularly IL-10 as an IFN-<FONT FACE="Symbol">g</font> opposing cytokine, and IL-12 as an IFN-<FONT FACE="Symbol">g</font> inducer. The effects of these cytokines were evaluated in terms of several parameters of the human immune response. IL-10 reduced lymphocyte proliferation, IFN-<FONT FACE="Symbol">g</font> production and cytotoxic activity of responsive human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Neutralization of IL-10 led to partial restoration of lymphoproliferation, IFN-<FONT FACE="Symbol">g</font> production and cytotoxic activity in unresponsive visceral leishmaniasis patients. IL-12 also restored the responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from visceral leishmaniasis patients. The responses obtained with IL-12 are higher than those obtained with anti-IL-10, even when anti-IL-10 is combined with anti-IL-4

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Barral-Netto,M., Brodskyn,C., Carvalho,E.M., Barral,A.
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Associação Brasileira de Divulgação Científica 1998
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-879X1998000100021
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