Biochemical association between essential trace elements and susceptibility to Leishmania major in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice

Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases

Marzyeh Amini²  Hossein Nahrevanian¹  Shohreh Khatami¹  Mahin Farahmand¹  Fatemeh Mirkhani¹  Seifoddin Javadian¹ 

[1] ,Payame Nour University Tehran Center

关键词: Balb/c;    C57bl/6;    CL;    Iran;    Leishmania major;    treatment;    Cu;    Zn;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S1413-86702009000200002

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

Several enzymes that contribute to immune system responses require zinc and copper as trace elements for their activity. We examined zinc and copper levels in two susceptible Balb/c mouse lines and resistant C57bl/6 mice infected with Leishmania major MRHO/IR/75/ER, a prevalent strain that causes cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iran. Serum Zn and Cu were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Higher Cu levels were found in infected C57bl/6 mice and higher Zn levels were found in infected Balb/c mice. Also, Cu/Zn ratios were increased in both the Balb/c and the C57bl/6 mice. We conclude that concentrations of essential trace elements vary during cutaneous leishmaniasis infection and that this variation is associated with susceptibility/resistance to Leishmania major in Balb/c and C57bl/6 mice. We detected Zn deficiency in the plasma of infected Balb/c mice; possibly, therapeutic administration of Zn would be useful for treating this form of leishmaniasis. Increases in Cu level might increase resistance to leishmaniasis. Based on our findings, the Cu/Zn ratio could be a useful marker for the pathophysiology of leishmaniasis.

【 授权许可】

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