title: Expression of Pro-inflammatory Genes in Lesions and Neutrophils duringLeishmania majorInfection in BALB/c Mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Leishmaniasis is a worldwide disease prevalent in tropical and sub-tropical countries in the world. Characterization of inflammatory responses produced in cutaneous leishmaniasis has not yet been completed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The specific primers were designed for ten pro-inflammatory genes including CCL4, CCL3, TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-12P35, IL-12P40, CCL5, CCR5, IL-1β and IFN- γ and their expression were assessed and compared using RT-PCR in the lesion and peripheral blood neutrophils inLeishmaniainfected BALB/c mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the pro-inflammatory genes was expressed in the healthy tissue and except IFN-γ others were down-regulated by the parasite in the lesion in untreated mice. In mice treated with anti-Leishmanial drugs, the expression of the pro-inflammatory genes restarted. The figure of pro-inflammatory gene expression in neutrophils was different was from the lesions in treated and untreated mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Leishmaniais capable to suppress the expression of pro-inflammatory genes in the lesions but not in neutrophils. The expression of TNF-α in the lesions and down-regulation of IL-1β in neutrophils could be accounted as an indication for healing of cutaneous leishmaniasis. The results open a new window on characterization ofLeishmanialesions and clarifying the role of neutrophils inLeishmaniainfections.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Laboratory Sciences, School of Veterinary Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Soheyla
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akhzari
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Laboratory Sciences, School of Veterinary Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rezvan
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Laboratory Sciences, School of Veterinary Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamadan, Iran; Dept. of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Para-Veterinary Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zolhavarieh
keywords: BALB/c mice; Leishmania; Lesion; Neutrophils; Pro-inflammatory genes