Intracellular IFN-γ and IL-4 levels of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells in the peripheral blood of naturally infected (Leishmania infantum) symptomatic dogs before and following a 4-week treatment with miltefosine and allopurinol: a double-blinded, controlled and cross-sectional study

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

Research

Elias G. Papadopoulos¹  Alexander F. Koutinas²  Ioanna E. Papadogiannaki³  Emmanouil I. Papadogiannakis⁴  Dimitrios T. Matralis⁵ 

[1]Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, University Campus, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece

[2]Quality Veterinary Practice, 90 Kapodistriou Str., 383 33, Volos, Greece

[3]Small Animal Dermatology Clinic, 2 Krystalli Str., Alimos, 174 55, Athens, Greece

[4]Small Animal Dermatology Clinic, 2 Krystalli Str., Alimos, 174 55, Athens, Greece

[5]School of Public Health, University of West Attica, 196 Alexandras Av., 115 21, Athens, Greece

[6]Vets4life Veterinary Clinic, 24 Marathonos Av., Pikermi, 190 09, Athens, Greece

关键词: Canine leishmaniosis;    CD4 + cells;    CD8 + cells;    Intracellular cytokines;    Treatment;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13028-023-00666-1

 received in 2022-09-27, accepted in 2023-01-23,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundCanine leishmaniosis (CanL) is a systemic disease caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania infantum with a wide spectrum of clinical signs, with cutaneous, ocular, renal and lymphoreactive conditions prevailing in the clinical setting. The immune system plays a pivotal role in the evolution of Leishmania infection and its response to antileishmanial treatment. Cytokines are important immune response mediators that are released by activated lymphocytes and less so by other immunocytes. In dogs with leishmaniosis, IFN-γ and IL-4 have been recognized as the main activators of cellular and humoral immunity, respectively. The objective of this study was to investigate intracellular IL-4 and IFN-γ expression by CD4 + and CD8 + lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of symptomatic dogs before and after combined antileishmanial treatment with miltefosine and allopurinol.ResultsPostantileishmanial treatment CD4 + IL-4 + and CD8 + IL-4 + cell counts were significantly decreased, although no similar changes were observed in the comparisons made between the pre- and posttreatment CD4 + IFN-γ + and CD8 + IFN-γ + counts and ratios.ConclusionThe findings indicate that IL-4 production by T cells may facilitate the symptomatic phase of CanL, whereas IFN-γ production by CD4 + and CD8 + cells may indicate its negligible role in the evolution of natural CanL and perhaps the equivocal positive influence of antileishmanial treatment.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2023