title: Central role of interleukin-15 in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with visceral leishmaniasis.
abstract: To evaluate clinical and immunological parameters, interleukin (IL)-15 production and outcome of patients with visceral leishmaniasis (VL), including HIV positive patients, we analyzed 48 cases of VL. Clinical manifestations and response to therapy were similar in VL/HIV- and VL/HIV+ patients. However, relapses were more frequent in patients with HIV infection. Low levels of IL-15 concentrations were found in HIV+ patients without VL. These levels were comparable to concentrations obtained in healthy donors. We found a relationship between response to therapy and IL-15 levels. We found increased levels of IL-15 in VL/HIV- and VL/HIV+ patients with clinical and parasitological response to therapy. Our data demonstrate that VL in HIV-infected patients occurs in subjects with severe immunodeficiency and presents high rate of relapses. Low levels of IL-15 in illness patients and restored production in cured persons suggest that this cytokine could play a central role in immune responses during Leishmania/HIV co-infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, La Sapienza University, Polo Pontino, Viale Regina Elena 361, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: d'Ettorre
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ceccarelli
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carnevalini
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Forcina
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zaffiri
authors.forename: Anna P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Massetti
authors.forename: Claudio M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Mastroianni
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vullo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000965:Antimony / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D007891:Leishmania / Q000276:immunology*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D019409:Interleukin-15; C068538:liposomal amphotericin B; D000666:Amphotericin B; D000965:Antimony