Unresponsiveness of specific T cells to IL-12 is associated with active cutaneous leishmaniasis owing to Leishmania guyanensis.
The production of interleukin (IL)-13 and unresponsiveness to IL-12 in T cells were analyzed in patients with active localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (untreated or not responsive to treatment) and in patients who had been treated successfully for the disease. More IL-13 was produced by specific T cells in response to Leishmania guyanensis (L. guyanensis) antigens in active compared to in inactive leishmaniasis. Furthermore, unresponsiveness of specific T cells to IL-12 was detected only in patients with active leishmaniasis, i.e. in patients with detectable parasites such as untreated patients and patients unresponsive to treatment. These results support that IL-12 unresponsiveness of Leishmania-specific T cells is responsible for the persistence of infection.
Bourreau
E
E
Immunologie des Leishmanies, Institut Pasteur, BP 6010, 97306 Cayenne, French Guyana.
Prévot
G
G
Pradinaud
R
R
Launois
P
P
D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018334:Leishmania guyanensis / Q000276:immunology*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D018793:Interleukin-13; D018664:Interleukin-12