The Role of Surface Molecules in Host Responses of Leishmaniasis: Focus on Lipid Mediators

Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease that affects more than 12 million people worldwide. After parasite inoculum by female blood-sucking insects, e.g. Phlebotomus, neutrophils quickly infiltrate and phagocytes Leishmania parasites. Macrophages are the second immune cells. They possess several pattern recognition receptors that respond to different surface molecules such as Lipophosphoglycan, glycoprotein 63 (GP63), PPG, GIPL, CP, and SAP. It was found that Leishmania GP63 cleaves several targets of infected macrophages, including the myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate, p130CAS, PEST, NF-B, and AP-1. After activation of surface molecules, lipid metabolites of arachidonic acid, including leukotrienes and prostaglandins, are important mediators in Leishmaniasis. These lipid metabolites can be metabolized by different enzymes, including the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase.