title: Cyclophosphamide affects the dynamics of granuloma formation in experimental visceral leishmaniasis.
abstract: We observed histopathological and ultrastructural hepatic changes following the intracardiac inoculation of Leishmania donovani amastigotes into inbred LHC hamsters (group I). Since granuloma formation is known to be T-cell-dependent, we also examined infected hamsters under cyclophosphamide immunosuppressive treatment (group ICy) and evaluated the production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) by their cells. Group I showed more intense hepatocyte and endothelial cell clasmatosis as well as hepatocyte degeneration and necrosis, deposits of connective tissue fibers, granulomas with multinucleated giant cells (MGCs) of foreign-body and Langhans' types and reduced production of IL-2 by spleen cells. In contrast, group ICy hamsters exhibited larger eosinophil and lymphocyte populations within sinusoids and peri-sinusoidal areas but showed no MGCs in granulomas. A striking decline in IL-2 production was noted. These results suggest that cyclophosphamide induces a delay in the natural evolution of L. donovani-induced granulomatous hepatic inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Corrêa
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Bunn-Moreno
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Madeira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008109:Liver Diseases, Parasitic / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009929:Organ Size
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D003520:Cyclophosphamide