title: Ferroportin-encapsulated nanoparticles reduce infection and improve immunity in mice infected with Leishmania major.
abstract: Inoculation of inbred mice by Leishmania major results in two different patterns. C57BL/6 mice display resistance against L. major but BALB/c mice show susceptibility to L. major with visceral infection, anemia and death. In this study, the effects of treatment of L. major-infected BALB/c mice with a ferroportin (Fpn)-encoding construct via nanoparticles were evaluated. A fragment encoding Fpn, a major regulator of iron homeostasis, was amplified and sub-cloned to a GFP expression vector to express Fpn-EGFP protein. This construct was incorporated in nanoparticles of alginate/chitosan polymers and orally administered to L. major-infected BALB/c mice. Blood hematocrit and iron, footpad size, parasite load and concentration of IFNG, IL4 and IL10 by ELISA were measured in the treated and untreated mice. The results indicated that the treated mice had significantly higher hematocrit and iron levels while exhibited significantly lower footpad size and parasite load measurements. Moreover, lower levels of IL4 and IL10 and higher ratios of IFNG/IL4 or IFNG/IL10 were shown in the treated, compared to the untreated mice. In conclusion, treating BALB/c mice infected with L. major with encapsulated Fpn-encoding construct in alginate/chitosan nanoparticles were shown to reduce the infection and improve anemia and immunity in the animal model of leishmaniasis.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran; Marine Biology Department, Sciences & Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Hesarak, Iran.
authors.forename: Aras
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rafiee
authors.affiliation: Immunology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Farhad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Riazi-Rad
authors.affiliation: Immunology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Haiedeh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Darabi
authors.affiliation: Immunology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Vahid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Khaze
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Seifoddin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Javadian
authors.affiliation: Immunology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Soheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ajdary
authors.affiliation: Immunology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fariborz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bahrami
authors.affiliation: Immunology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: mhalimoham@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mohammad Hossein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Alimohammadian
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D000818:Animals; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006400:Hematocrit; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D018320:Leishmania major; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D059208:Parasite Load; D000098742:Ferroportin
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D000098742:Ferroportin; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D048271:Chitosan; D007501:Iron
keywords: Alginate/chitosan; BALB/c mice; Ferroportin; Leishmania major; Nanoparticles