L-arginine metabolism and its impact on host immunity against Leishmania infection.
Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease found in many countries worldwide. The causative agent of the disease, Leishmania spp., lives as an obligate intracellular parasite within mammalian hosts. Since tissue macrophages are major target cells for parasite replication, the outcome of infection depends largely on the activation status of these cells. L-arginine is a crucial amino acid required for both nitric oxide (NO)-mediated parasite killing and polyamine-mediated parasite replication. This review highlights the significance of L-arginine as a factor determining the outcomes of Leishmania infection in vitro and its influences on host immune responses in vivo. Various therapeutic approaches targeting L-arginine metabolic pathways during infections with Leishmania are also discussed.
Department of Microbiology, Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infections, Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1070, USA.
Nanchaya
N
Wanasen
Lynn
L
Soong
D000818:Animals; D001119:Arginase / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001120:Arginine / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D027202:Cationic Amino Acid Transporter 2 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007891:Leishmania; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000628:therapy; D008262:Macrophage Activation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology; D051379:Mice; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011073:Polyamines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D027202:Cationic Amino Acid Transporter 2; D011073:Polyamines; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine; D001119:Arginase