Studies in a co-infection murine model of Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi and Leishmania infantum: interferon-gamma and interleukin-4 mRNA expression.
This work aimed to study the T helper type 1/2 (Th1/Th2) cytokine profile in a co-infection murine model of Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi and Leishmania infantum. Expression of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) was analyzed, in spleen and liver of C57BL/6 mice, by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. High levels of IFN-gamma expression did not prevent the progression of Leishmania in co-infected mice and Leishmania infection did not interfere with the Th1/Th2 switch necessary for Plasmodium control. The presence of IL-4 at day 28 in co-infected mice, essential for Plasmodium elimination, was probably a key factor on the exacerbation of the Leishmania infection.
Marques
Cláudia S
CS
Unidade de Leishmanioses, Centro de Malária e Doenças Tropicais, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa.
Rolão
Nuno
N
Centeno-Lima
Sónia
S
Lousada
Hélder
H
Maia
Carla
C
Campino
Lenea
L
do Rosário
Virgílio E
VE
Silveira
Henrique
H
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000276:immunology*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D008288:Malaria / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000276:immunology; D016788:Plasmodium chabaudi / Q000276:immunology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D016053:RNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016053:RNA, Protozoan; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma