Abstract
During an epidemiological study of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in south-west Ethiopia, 33 VL patients, 9 treated VL patients, 14 individuals with sub-clinical infection, 34 individuals with asymptomatic infection, and 19 healthy controls were studied for T cell subsets and cytokine profiles. Negative leishmanin skin test, CD3 and CD4 lymphocytopenia, and significantly reduced numbers of memory CD4+ T cells were found in VL patients compared to treated VL patients or persons with self-limiting asymptomatic infection. The proportion of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells that produced IFN-γ and IL-4 after stimulation with PMA (Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate) and ionomycin was significantly reduced in VL patients compared to sub-clinical and asymptomatic infections or healthy controls. Plasma concentrations of IFN-γ and IL-10 were elevated in VL.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 182-191 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Clinical Immunology |
Volume | 117 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Nov 2005 |
Keywords
- Visceral leishmaniasis
- Cytokines
- Ethiopia
- Asymptomatic
- T cell subsets