title: Cytokine mRNA expression in Peromyscus yucatanicus (Rodentia: Cricetidae) infected by Leishmania (Leishmania) mexicana.
abstract: Peromyscus yucatanicus, the main reservoir of Leishmania (Leishmania) mexicana in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico, reproduces clinical and histological pictures of LCL in human as well as subclinical infection. Thus, we used this rodent as a novel experimental model. In this work, we analyzed cytokine mRNA expression in P. yucatanicus infected with L. (L.) mexicana. Animals were inoculated with either 2.5×10(6) or 1×10(2) promastigotes and cytokine expressions were analyzed by real-time RT-PCR in skin at 4 and 12weeks post-infection (wpi). Independently of the parasite inoculum none of the infected rodents had clinical signs of LCL at 4wpi and all expressed high IFN-γ mRNA. All P. yucatanicus inoculated with 2.5×10(6) promastigotes developed signs of LCL at 12wpi while the mice inoculated with 1×10(2) remained subclinical. At that time, both IFN-γ and IL-10 were expressed in P. yucatanicus with clinical and subclinical infections. Expressions of TNF-α and IL-4 were significantly higher in clinical animals (2.5×10(6)) compared with subclinical ones (1×10(2)). High TGF-β expression was observed in P. yucatanicus with clinical signs when compared with healthy animals. Results suggested that the clinical course of L. (L.) mexicana infection in P. yucatanicus was associated with a specific local pattern of cytokine production at 12wpi.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Laboratorio de Inmunologia, Ave. Itzaes No. 490 x 59-A, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. Electronic address: nalleli.cervera@correo.uady.mx.
authors.forename: Elsy Nalleli
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Loria-Cervera
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Laboratorio de Inmunologia, Ave. Itzaes No. 490 x 59-A, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. Electronic address: erikasosa@correo.uady.mx.
authors.forename: Erika Ivett
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Sosa-Bibiano
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Laboratorio de Inmunologia, Ave. Itzaes No. 490 x 59-A, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. Electronic address: nvan@correo.uady.mx.
authors.forename: Nicole Raymonde
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Van Wynsberghe
authors.affiliation: Center for Tropical Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, 4.304 Marvin Graves Building, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX, USA. Electronic address: omsaldar@utmb.edu.
authors.forename: Omar Abdul
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Saldarriaga
authors.affiliation: Center for Tropical Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, 4.304 Marvin Graves Building, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX, USA. Electronic address: pcmelby@utmb.edu.
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Melby
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Laboratorio de Inmunologia, Ave. Itzaes No. 490 x 59-A, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. Electronic address: anarvaez@correo.uady.mx.
authors.forename: Fernando Jose
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Andrade-Narvaez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007894:Leishmania mexicana / Q000378:metabolism*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000378:metabolism*; D010542:Peromyscus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger
keywords: Clinical infection; Leishmania (L.) mexicana; Peromyscus yucatanicus; Subclinical infection; Th1/Th2 cytokines