title: Evaluation of serum levels of soluble CD4, CD8 and beta 2-microglobulin in visceral human leishmaniasis.
abstract: The levels of soluble CD4 (sCD4), sCD8 and beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-M) were measured in sera from patients with visceral leishmaniasis during the course of infection. Levels of sCD4, sCD8 and beta 2-M were raised significantly above levels in normal sera and returned to the normal range after recovery. The decrease in the levels of sCD8 was related to a reduction of anaemia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. In contrast, sCD4 levels fluctuated during the period of infection. beta 2-M returned within normal range more rapidly than sCD8 secretion. Our results suggest that T cells are activated during infection, and that it is also possible that the raised levels of these soluble molecules play a role in the impairment of protective immunity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Pathology, University of Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mocciaro
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malta
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gambino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spinelli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stassi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Arcoleo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Milano
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cillari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin