title: Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in human cutaneous leishmaniasis.
abstract: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is an infectious disease caused by Leishmania parasite. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and generation of nitric oxide in response to IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha is important in control of infection. The aim of the study was to determine the expression of iNOS in the lesions of Leishmania tropica, and whether there was a correlation between the level of expression and the duration of the disease. Punch biopsy was performed from patients (n = 29) and iNOS immunohistochemical staining was applied. Expression of iNOS protein was detected 82.8% of patients. There was a strong expression with the duration of the disease less than 6 months (p < 0.002). These findings demonstrate that iNOS has a role in L. tropica especially during the early stages of the infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Mustafa Kemal University, Faculty of Medicine, 31100, Hatay, Turkey. gserarslan@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Gamze
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Serarslan
authors.forename: Esin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Atik
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II