CD4+ T cells play a dominant role in protection against New World leishmaniasis induced by vaccination with the P-4 amastigote antigen.
Immunodepletion studies of P-4-vaccinated mice indicate that CD4+ and not CD8+ T cells are critical for protection against Leishmania pifanoi (Leishmania mexicana complex). Although a moderate CD8+ T-cell response is elicited by vaccination, CD4+ T cells are the dominant responding population in vitro and at the cutaneous site of infection. These protective T cells produce gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), and tumor necrosis factor/lymphotoxin (TNF/LT), each of which significantly contributed to intracellular parasite destruction in vitro. These results indicate that a singular CD4+ T-cell response (IFN-gamma, MIF, and/or LT/TNF) can provide protection against New World cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Kar
Sujata
S
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University School of Medicine, 60 College Street, New Haven, CT 06520-8034, USA.
Metz
Christine
C
McMahon-Pratt
Diane
D
D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007894:Leishmania mexicana / Q000276:immunology*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology; D014611:Vaccination
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma