title: T cell subset and cytokine profiles in human visceral leishmaniasis during active and asymptomatic or sub-clinical infection with Leishmania donovani.
abstract: During an epidemiological study of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in south-west Ethiopia, 33 VL patients, 9 treated VL patients, 14 individuals with sub-clinical infection, 34 individuals with asymptomatic infection, and 19 healthy controls were studied for T cell subsets and cytokine profiles. Negative leishmanin skin test, CD3 and CD4 lymphocytopenia, and significantly reduced numbers of memory CD4+ T cells were found in VL patients compared to treated VL patients or persons with self-limiting asymptomatic infection. The proportion of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells that produced IFN-gamma and IL-4 after stimulation with PMA (Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate) and ionomycin was significantly reduced in VL patients compared to sub-clinical and asymptomatic infections or healthy controls. Plasma concentrations of IFN-gamma and IL-10 were elevated in VL.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Addis Ababa University, PO Box 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. hailu_a2004@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Asrat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hailu
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van Baarle
authors.forename: Gerlinde J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Knol
authors.forename: Nega
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Berhe
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Miedema
authors.forename: Piet A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Kager
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000276:immunology*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000276:immunology*; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000378:metabolism; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens