In vivo/In vitro immune responses to L. major isolates from patients with no clinical response to Glucantime

Leishmaniasis is a major health problem in some endemic areas of tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Interleukin‑12 (IL‑12) and interferon gamma (IFN‑γ) are essential cytokines associated with initiation of Th1 response. The main objective of this study was to evaluate of the type of immune response to L. major isolates from patients with no clinical response to antimonite (Glucantime).

This experimental study was carried out during 2013–2014. In the current study Leishmania major were isolated from 10 CL patients with a history of at least one course of treatment with Meglumine antimonate (Sb5). The isolates were used to evaluate in vitro and in vivo response to Sb5. J774 murine macrophage cell line was used for in vitro tests and Balb/c mice was used for in vivo studies. IL‑12 gene expression was evaluated using Real‑time PCR and IFN‑γ serum level was quantified using ELISA technique. SPSS (version: 20), analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used for statistical analysis.

PCR results confirmed that all 10 isolates were L. major. The mean of IL‑12 gene expression in vitro, in vivo and IFN‑γ serum levels (pg/ml) after 2 and 3 weeks treatment in vivo, increased significantly following the treatment with Glucantime in the two groups of Balb/c mice infected either with patients’ isolates or standard L. major. No significant difference was seen between the patients’ isolates and standard species.

Although the L. major were isolated from patients with active lesion and no clinical response to Glucantime after at least one courses of Glucantime treatment but in vivo and in vitro immune response of L. major isolates showed no difference between the patients’ isolates and standard L. major.