title: Elevated TGF-beta levels in drug-resistant visceral leishmaniasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Poor and neglected populations in Africa are particularly affected with visceral leishmaniasis. The widespread emergence of resistance to pentavalent antimonials occurs globally and the unavailability of a vaccine in clinical use constitutes a major obstacle in disease control.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the cytokine profile in human visceral leishmaniasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional laboratory-based study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single center study carried out at the Institute of Endemic Diseases, University of Khartoum, Sudan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Soluble lysates of L major and L donovani were used to stimulate the lymphocytes of two groups of confirmed VL patients (group 1 [n=20] had respond to pentostam treatment and group 2 [n=5] were recorded as drug resistant after follow up) in a cellular proliferation assay and the levels of IFNg, IL-10, TNFa and TGFb were detected by cytokine ELISA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Levels of IFNg, TNFa, IL-10 and TGFb.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant increase of IFNg and TNFa levels were reported in stimulated cells of drug susceptible and drug resistant groups, but no significant difference in IL-10 production was observed between the different antigens or between the patients groups. TGFb from stimulated lymphocytes was secreted in statistically significant amounts in patients reported as drug resistant in response to both L major and L donovani antigens (P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In VL patients, IFNg and TNFa are extremely produced in response to in vitro re-stimulation which means that the parasitic infection, although virulent and chronic, does not render patients as immunocompromised. However, TGFb is mostly associated with treatment failure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study assessed secretory TGFb. A study with a larger sample size to assess TGFb gene expression and to follow its intracytoplasmic synthesis in drug resistant VL patients is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Miskelyemen Elmekki, Taibah University,, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, College of Applied Medical Sciences,, Almadinah Almonawwara,, Saudi Arabia, T: 966 14 8618888, miskatti@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Miskelyemen A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Elmekki
authors.forename: Mogahid M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Elhassan
authors.forename: Hani A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Ozbak
authors.forename: Moawia M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mukhtar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000967:Antimony Sodium Gluconate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D013397:Sudan; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; C573415:IFNG protein, human; C508609:IL10 protein, human; C439524:TNF protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D000967:Antimony Sodium Gluconate