Status of IL-4 and IL-10 driven markers in experimental models of Visceral Leishmaniasis.
Moulik S., Karmakar J., Joshi S., Dube A., Mandal C., Chatterjee M.
AimLeishmania donovani, the causative agent for visceral leishmaniasis (VL), modulates host monocytes/macrophages to ensure its survival. However, knowledge regarding the host-parasite interactions underpinning the disease remains limited. As disease progression is associated with polarization of monocytes/macrophages towards M2, which is regulated by cytokines IL-4/IL-13 and IL-10, this study evaluated the status of key IL-4- and IL-10 driven markers in experimental models of VL, as also evaluated their correlation, if any, with parasite load.MethodsIn liver and splenic tissues from L donovani-infected hamsters and BALB/c mice, the parasite burden was determined along with mRNA expression of IL-4-driven markers, that is CD206, Arginase-I, CCL17, CCL22, PPAR-γ, STAT6, KLF4, FIZZ1 and YM1 along with IL-10-driven markers, CXCL13, IL-10, TGF-β, VDR, CCR2 and CYP27A1.ResultsThe mRNA expression of IL-4- and IL-10-driven markers was enhanced in both models, but only in the hamster model, the splenic tissues demonstrated a positive correlation between all the IL-10-driven markers and parasite load.ConclusionsContrary to human VL, both models demonstrated an increased expression of IL-4- and IL-10-driven markers.