title: Evaluation of protective effect of IL-22 and IL-12 on cutaneous leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the protective effect of IL-22 and IL-12 on cutaneous leishmaniasisin BALB/c mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The protective effect of IL-22 and IL-12 on cutaneous leishmanias in BALB/c mice was evaluated by measurement of IL-4, INF-γ, total IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a after challenge with Leishamania major. Clinical evaluations were performed by measurement of lesion diameter, and survival rate of the mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In week 27 post infection, the mortality rates for control groups were 100%. While the survival rates for the IL-12, IL-12 + IL-22, and IL-22(5 ng/g) groups were 100%. The size of lesions decreased in the presence IL-22 (5 ng/g) of mice weight, which was statistically significant in comparison with other groups (P<0.05). Mean of total IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a for IL-22 (5 ng/g) group was more than other groups. In IL-22 group (5 ng/g), INF-γ production was significantly higher than other groups and IL-4 was significantly lower than other groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results obtained indicate the effectiveness of IL-22 and its effect on IL-12 in protection of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Hajar Ziaei
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Hezarjaribi
authors.affiliation: Parasitology and Entomology Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box: 14115-331, Tehran I.R. Iran. Electronic address: ghafarif@modares.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ghaffarifar
authors.affiliation: Parasitology and Entomology Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box: 14115-331, Tehran I.R. Iran.
authors.forename: Abdolhossein
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dalimi
authors.affiliation: Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Zohreh
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sharifi
keywords: IL-12; IL-22; Leishmania major; Mice; Protection