title: Maxadilan, the vasodilator/immunomodulator from Lutzomyia longipalpis sand fly saliva, stimulates haematopoiesis in mice.
abstract: Protozoal parasites of the genus Leishmania are transmitted to their vertebrate host within the saliva of the sand fly during a blood meal. The saliva of the sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis contains maxadilan, a potent vasodilator and immunomodulator. Maxadilan has been shown to enhance the virulence of L. major in all strains of laboratory mice when injected along with the organism. Increased haematopoiesis has been associated with enhanced susceptibility to Leishmania organisms. Here, we show that maxadilan alone stimulates bone marrow haematopoiesis through its ability to stimulate interleukin-6 production by bone marrow stromal cells. Moreover, these effects of maxadilan are mediated through the interaction of maxadilan with the pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide receptor. These data suggest that increasing haematopoiesis may be yet another way that maxadilan enhances susceptibility of mice to Leishmania infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1671, USA.
authors.forename: Valerie O
authors.initials: VO
authors.lastname: Guilpin
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Swardson-Olver
authors.forename: Leanna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nosbisch
authors.forename: Richard G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Titus
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D006410:Hematopoiesis; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D011576:Psychodidae; D012156:Reticulocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D019476:Insect Proteins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D009479:Neuropeptides; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; C075647:pituitary adenylate-cyclase-activating-peptide (6-38); C069147:maxadilan protein, insect