title: Variations in the serum levels of soluble CD23, nitric oxide and IgE across the spectrum of American cutaneous leishmaniasis.
abstract: Serum IgE levels and the expression of low affinity receptor for IgE (Fc epsilon RII/CD23) are increased in cutaneous leishmaniasis. The ligation of CD23 receptor by IgE-anti-IgE immune complexes results in nitric oxide (NO) production, which is a critical leishmanicidal factor. Human monocytes/macrophages express Fc epsilon RII/CD23 after activation with IFN-gamma and IL-4. In the present study, we assessed the relationship between NO, total and Leishmania-specific IgE and soluble CD23 across the clinical spectrum of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL). Sixty-nine ACL patients and 22 endemic controls were studied. NO concentration was estimated using the Greiss method. Soluble CD23, total IgE and anti-Leishmania IgE levels were measured using ELISA. Soluble CD23 was increased in the four patient groups (0.001<P<0.05) compared by the Mann-Whitney test to healthy subjects, particularly in mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL) and diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis (DCL) patients. Total IgE levels were higher in ACL patients (P<0.0001). Anti-Leishmania IgE showed a similar tendency, where MCL and DCL patients had greater levels. All patients groups, except intermediate or chronic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ICL) patients, showed elevated levels of NO(2)(-)/NO(3)(-) compared to healthy individuals (0.001<P<0.01). Interestingly, ICL patients did not produce significant levels of NO(2)(-)/NO(3)(-). ACL patients showed a significant positive correlation between soluble CD23 and anti-Leishmania IgE. DCL patients showed a positive correlation between both parameters. Overall results suggest that sCD23, IgE and NO may play different roles across the ACL spectrum.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood*; D017455:Receptors, IgE / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D017455:Receptors, IgE; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007073:Immunoglobulin E