title: Systemic cytokine response in humans with chiclero's ulcers.
abstract: In this work, we report the existence of enhanced concentrations of IL-2 (Th1 cytokine), TNF-alpha (mainly a Th1 cytokine), IL-12p40, a strong delayed type hypersensitivity response, and the absence of a serum-specific antibody response (IgG or IgE) in patients with active chiclero's ulcers. There was a low serum concentration of IL-6 (a Th2 cytokine) that was further reduced once patients healed following antimonial therapy (i.e., 4 months after treatment started). There was an absence of serum IL-4 (a Th2 cytokine) in patients before and after healing. The serum content of nitric oxide, transforming growth factor-beta1, and IL-12p70 in patients with progressive chiclero's ulcers was not different from that of controls. Patients had an alteration in blood-cell counts and showed a poor T cell proliferation after in vitro stimulation with Leishmania mexicana gp63. We concluded that patients with progressive chiclero's ulcers develop a Th1 type of response at this stage of the disease which correlates with increases in circulating eosinophils and B cells and a reduction of circulating CD8(+) T lymphocytes.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigaciones en Enfermedades Tropicales, Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, Campeche, México.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lezama-Davila
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Isaac-Marquez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed; D007894:Leishmania mexicana / Q000276:immunology*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008875:Middle Aged; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; C055146:glycoprotein gp63, Leishmania