ABSTRACT
This work aimed to study the T helper type 1/2 (Th1/Th2) cytokine profile in a co-infection murine model of Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi and Leishmania infantum. Expression of interferon-gamma and interleukin-4 (IL-4) was analyzed, in spleen and liver of C57BL/6 mice, by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. High levels of IFN-gamma expression did not prevent the progression of Leishmania in co-infected mice and Leishmania infection did not interfere with the Th1/Th2 switch necessary for Plasmodium control. The presence of IL-4 at day 28 in co-infected mice, essential for Plasmodium elimination, was probably a key factor on the exacerbation of the Leishmania infection.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Mice , Interferon-gamma/analysis , /analysis , Leishmania infantum/immunology , Plasmodium chabaudi/immunology , Th1 Cells/immunology , /immunology , Disease Models, Animal , Interferon-gamma/genetics , /genetics , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/complications , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/immunology , Liver/immunology , Liver/parasitology , Malaria/complications , Malaria/immunology , Parasitemia/immunology , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , RNA, Messenger/analysis , RNA, Protozoan/analysis , Spleen/immunology , Spleen/parasitologyABSTRACT
This work aimed to study the T helper type 1/2 (Th1/Th2) cytokine profile in a co-infection murine model of Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi and Leishmania infantum. Expression of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) was analyzed, in spleen and liver of C57BL/6 mice, by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. High levels of IFN-gamma expression did not prevent the progression of Leishmania in co-infected mice and Leishmania infection did not interfere with the Th1/Th2 switch necessary for Plasmodium control. The presence of IL-4 at day 28 in co-infected mice, essential for Plasmodium elimination, was probably a key factor on the exacerbation of the Leishmania infection.