title: Low serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone and cortisol in human diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis by Leishmania mexicana.
abstract: Low levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and cortisol hormones produced by the suprarenal cortex have been associated with diseases involving chronic inflammation, low interferon (IFN)-gamma, and high interleukin (IL)-6. Diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis (DL), a long-lasting intracellular parasitic infectious disease, can spread unknown levels of DHEA and cortisol. Serum concentrations of both were measured in 5 patients with DL, in 15 patients with localized lesions produced by Leishmania (LL), and in 20 healthy volunteers. Leishmania mexicana mexicana was identified as the causal agent in patients with DL and LL. Hormone levels were lower in DL compared with controls and LL. Furthermore, we detected a lower percentage of IFN-gamma-positive cells with higher levels of IL-6 and higher titers of anti-Leishmania antibodies in patients with DL, whereas patients with LL were similar to controls. These data suggest that patients with DL may be good candidates for DHEA and cortisol supplementation.
authors.affiliation: Subdirección de Investigación Clínica, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Mexico City, Mexico. NGalindoSevilla@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Galindo-Sevilla
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Soto
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mancilla
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cerbulo
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zambrano
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chavira
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huerto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007894:Leishmania mexicana; D016774:Leishmaniasis, Diffuse Cutaneous / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D015850:Interleukin-6; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D006854:Hydrocortisone