title: Studies in a co-infection murine model of Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi and Leishmania infantum: interferon-gamma and interleukin-4 mRNA expression.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Leishmanioses, Centro de Malária e Doenças Tropicais, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa.
authors.forename: Cláudia S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Nuno
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rolão
authors.forename: Sónia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Centeno-Lima
authors.forename: Hélder
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lousada
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.forename: Lenea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Campino
authors.forename: Virgílio E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: do Rosário
authors.forename: Henrique
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Silveira
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016053:RNA, Protozoan; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma