Coinfection with Listeria monocytogenes potentlxtes the response of BALB/c mice against Leishmania major.
Protection against L. major is dependent on the stimulation of an anti-leishmanial T helper1 (Th1) response and the production of Interferon (IFN)-y. BALB/c mice develop a Th2 response and fatal infection with Leishmania major. Strategies that boost IL-12 production have shown to be protective. The innate response to Listeria monocytogenes is associated with IL-12 production. The co-infection of BALB/c mice with L. monocytogenes attenuates the course of L. major infection. Lesion sizes were smaller, and co-infected mice out-survived controls injected with L. major alone. The parasite load was reduced at site of injection, in draining lymph nodes (LN) and spleen. During the first week of infection, in-vitro Leishmania-restimulated LN cells from co-infected mice produced higher levels of IFN-7 and undetectable levels of IL-4 compared to controls. Significant IL-4 mRNA expression was detected in LN cells of control but not in co-infected mice.
Tabbara
Khaled S
KS
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain. tabara@agu.edu.bh
Al-Azmi
Ahmad S
AS
Al Salem
Jawaher A
JA
D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000276:immunology*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000276:immunology*; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008875:Middle Aged; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D016207:Cytokines