Distinct strains of L eishmania major induce different cytokine m RNA expression in draining lymph node of BALB /c mice

• Published in: Parasite immunology Vol. 35; no. 1; pp. 42 - 50
• Main Authors: Asadpour, A., Riazi‐Rad, F., Khaze, V., Ajdary, S., Alimohammadian, M.H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.2013
• ISSN: 0141-9838; 1365-3024
• DOI: 10.1111/pim.12018

Summary Four genotypically distinct strains of L . major collected from persons residing in different endemic areas of cutaneous leishmaniasis in I ran were evaluated in BALB /c mice. Parasite virulence was evaluated by measuring the parasite burden in the lymph nodes. Immunogenicity of the strains was assessed by analysis of cytokines m RNA expression levels in popliteal lymph nodes of the mice in early (3, 16, 40 h) and late (week 1, W3, W5 and W8) time periods after infection. The expression of cytokines m RNA , namely Ifng, Il2 , Il4 , Il10 and Il12, was quantitated by real‐time PCR . The lowest and the highest parasite loads were induced by D amghan (2·15  ×  10 7 ) and S hiraz (9·59  ×  10 9 ) strains, respectively. Moreover, D amghan strain elicited higher expression levels of Ifng and Il2 m RNA and the highest ratio of Ifng / Il4 m RNA expression compared with the other strains at 40 h and 8 weeks post‐infection. The results indicate that the inoculation of BALB /c mice with different strains induced high diversity in parasite burden and cytokines gene expression. Amongst the four strains, D amghan strain showed the lowest parasite load and the highest tendency to induce expression of Th1 cytokines gene and might be considered as a safe and immunogenic strain.