RESUMO
In this work, some aspects of the glycobiology of Leishmania shawi were examined, as it is a causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the New World. Additionally, the interaction of L. shawi's main glycoconjugates [lipophosphoglycan (LPG) and glycoinositolphospholipids (GIPLs)] with macrophages was evaluated in vitro. L. shawi LPG was devoid of side-chains in its repeat units, whereas monosaccharide analysis showed that GIPLs were suggestive of mannose-rich (type I or hybrid). In order to evaluate the biological roles of those molecules, BALB/c resident peritoneal macrophages were incubated with these glycoconjugates for 24h, and the levels of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-12p70 and IL-10, were determined. In general, the GIPLs exhibited a greater proinflammatory role than the LPGs did. However, for the first time, the GIPLs from this species were able to trigger the production of IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine. In conclusion, L. shawi glycoconjugates were able to interact with the innate immune compartment. These data reinforce the role of parasite glycoconjugates during parasite and host cell interactions.