title: Liposomal resiquimod for the treatment of Leishmania donovani infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The imidazoquinoline family of drugs are Toll-like receptor 7/8 agonists that have previously been used in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Because of the hydrophobic nature of imidazoquinolines, they are traditionally not administered systemically for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis. We formulated liposomal resiquimod, an imidazoquinoline, for the systemic treatment of visceral leishmaniasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  By using lipid film hydration with extrusion, we encapsulated resiquimod in liposomes. These liposomes were then injected intravenously to treat BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania donovani.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with liposomal resiquimod significantly decreased the parasite load in the liver, spleen and bone marrow. In addition, resiquimod treatment increased interferon-γ and interleukin-10 production in an antigen recall assay. Resiquimod was shown to be non-toxic in histology and in vitro culture experiments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FDA-approved resiquimod, in a liposomal formulation, displays promising results in treating visceral leishmaniasis.
authors: Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors: Kevin J
authors: KJ
authors: Peine
authors: Gaurav
authors: G
authors: Gupta
authors: Deanna J
authors: DJ
authors: Brackman
authors: Tracey L
authors: TL
authors: Papenfuss
authors: Kristy M
authors: KM
authors: Ainslie
authors: Abhay R
authors: AR
authors: Satoskar
authors: Eric M
authors: EM
authors: Bachelder
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000469:parasitology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008081:Liposomes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D059208:Parasite Load; D013154:Spleen / Q000469:parasitology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D007093:Imidazoles; D008081:Liposomes; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma; C402365:resiquimod
keywords: drug delivery; imidazoquinoline; therapy; visceral
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