title: P-glycoprotein A Gene Expression in Glucantime-Resistant and Sensitive Leishmania major (MRHO/IR/75/ER).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease caused by different species of Leishmania parasites with a wide range of clinical manifestations. Antimonial compounds such as meglumine antimoniate (glucantime) are the first line drugs for the treatment of leishmaniasis. However, according to reports of the drug resistance of parasites, the efficacy of antimonial compounds is low. The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) proteins are present in all organisms and mediate the transport of vital elements through biological membranes. One of the important mechanisms of resistance in Leishmania parasites is the overexpression of ABC efflux pumps. P-glycoprotein A (pgpA) is a related gene for ABC transporter in Leishmania species. The aim of this study was to compare the pgpA expression in laboratory-induced resistant L. major (MRHO/IR/75/ER) and sensitive parasites.
  
  
  METHODS
  RNA extraction of promastigotes of sensitive and resistant clones was performed and total RNA was reverse transcribed. The real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to assess RNA expression profiles and the expression levels were calculated using 2(-ΔCt) method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean expression level of pgpA mRNA was 2.70 ± 0.51 in in sensitive Leishmania clone and 6.08 ± 1.50 in resistant Leishmania clone (P = 0.021).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression of pgpA gene in resistant strains of L. major was almost fivefold higher than those in susceptible strains. Therefore, this can be used in field isolates, i.e. overexpression of the gene can prove resistance in wild type field isolates.
authors: Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Simindokht
authors: S
authors: Soleimanifard
authors: Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors: Reza
authors: R
authors: Arjmand
authors: Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Sedighe
authors: S
authors: Saberi
authors: Center for Research and Training in Skin Diseases and Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Khamesipour
authors: Department of Anatomical Sciences and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Kazemi
authors: Department of Anatomical Sciences and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Mansoor
authors: M
authors: Salehi
authors: Deputy of Research, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Mojtaba
authors: M
authors: Akbari
authors: Skin Disease and Leishmaniasis Research Center, Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: SeyedHossein
authors: S
authors: Hejazi
keywords: Leishmania major; P-glycoprotein A; Real-time RT-PCR; glucantime