Interleukin (IL)-13 is the predominant Th2 cytokine in localized cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions and renders specific CD4+ T cells unresponsive to IL-12.
Semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis of leishmania lesion cytokine profile showed a Th2 cytokine expression pattern, as reflected by interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 mRNA expression. There was a predominance of IL-13 in most lesions from patients with American localized cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania guyanensis. IL-13 production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in response to specific leishmania antigens was confirmed in these patients. The absence of the second chain of the IL-12 receptor (IL-12Rbeta2) mRNA expression in lesions and the presence of specific IgE and IgG4 in some serum samples demonstrated the functional role of these Th2 cytokines. IL-13, unlike IL-4, rendered specific T cells unresponsive to IL-12 by inhibiting the expression of the IL-12Rbeta2 chain. These data establish the crucial role of IL-13 in human cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Immunologie des Leishmanioses, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana.
E
E
Bourreau
G
G
Prévot
R
R
Pradinaud
P
P
Launois
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D018334:Leishmania guyanensis / Q000276:immunology; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D053707:Receptors, Interleukin-12; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D016207:Cytokines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018793:Interleukin-13; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D053707:Receptors, Interleukin-12; D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E