Increased capacity for interleukin-2 synthesis parallels disease progression in mice infected with Leishmania major

Infect Immun. 1998 Sep;66(9):4537-40. doi: 10.1128/IAI.66.9.4537-4540.1998.

Abstract

Lymph node cells of BALB/c mice with progressive leishmaniasis produced sixfold more interleukin-2 (IL-2) in culture than those of healing C57BL/6 mice. IL-2 synthesis also increased in C57BL/6 mice made susceptible by IL-12 or gamma interferon deficiency. However, IL-2 mRNA levels in vivo did not reflect IL-2 production in vitro. Because IL-2 contributes to the pathogenesis of progressive leishmaniasis, the functional significance of these findings should be further explored.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-2 / biosynthesis*
  • Interleukin-4 / biosynthesis
  • Leishmania major / immunology*
  • Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / immunology*
  • Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / physiopathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Spleen / cytology

Substances

  • Interleukin-2
  • Interleukin-4
  • Interferon-gamma