title: Analysis of the expression of toll-like receptors 2 and 4 and cytokine production during experimental Leishmania chagasi infection.
abstract: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognise pathogen-derived molecules and influence immunity to control parasite infections. This study aimed to evaluate the mRNA expression of TLRs 2 and 4, the expression and production of the cytokines interleukin (IL)-12, interferon (IFN)-γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-17, IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and the production of nitric oxide (NO) in the spleen of mice infected with Leishmania chagasi. It also aimed to evaluate any correlations between mRNA expression TLR2 and 4 and cytokines and NO production. Infection resulted in increased TLR2-4, IL-17, TNF-α and TGF-β mRNA expression during early infection, with decreased expression during late infection correlating with parasite load. IFN-γ and IL-12 mRNA expression decreased at the peak of parasitism. IL-10 mRNA expression increased throughout the entire time period analysed. Although TGF-β, TNF-α and IL-17 were highly produced during the initial phase of infection, IFN-γ and IL-12 exhibited high production during the final phase of infection. IL-10 and NO showed increased production throughout the evaluated time period. In the acute phase of infection, there was a positive correlation between TLR2-4, TNF-α, IL-17, NO, IL-10 and TGF-β expression and parasite load. During the chronic phase of infection, there was a positive correlation between TLR2-4, TNF-α, IL-17 and TGF-β expression and parasite load. Our data suggest that infection by L. chagasi resulted in modulation of TLRs 2 and 4 and cytokines.
authors: Departamento de Doenças Tropicais, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brasil. gagcezario@gmail.com
authors: Glaucia Aparecida Gomes
authors: GA
authors: Cezário
authors: Larissa Ragozo Cardoso
authors: LR
authors: de Oliveira
authors: Eliana
authors: E
authors: Peresi
authors: Vanessa Cristina
authors: VC
authors: Nicolete
authors: Jossimara
authors: J
authors: Polettini
authors: Carlos Roberto Gonçalves
authors: CR
authors: de Lima
authors: Mariana
authors: M
authors: Gatto
authors: Sueli Aparecida
authors: SA
authors: Calvi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D059208:Parasite Load; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4