NKT and ILC interaction in immune response of patients coinfected with HIV e M. leprae

• Grant number: 16/21230-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): September 01, 2017
• Effective date (End): August 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Karina Inacio Ladislau de Carvalho
• Grantee: Juliana Rodrigues Zampieri
• Host Institution: Instituto Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa Albert Einstein (IIEPAE). Sociedade Beneficente Israelita Brasileira Albert Einstein (SBIBAE). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is caused by HIV, which attacks the CD4 cells, weakening the immune defense, with high prevalence in developing countries. Another disease, leprosy is caused by Mycobacterium leprae, that have as main manifestation the skin infection and nerves. However leprosy is a disease with low rate of proliferation and pathogenicity and it is not known what factors cause individuals to develop the disease. It is reported many cases of patients coinfected by HIV and M. leprae, and the interaction between the two pathogens has not been fully clarified. Our group in 2012 founded that coinfected patients had a decreased number of NKT cells (natural killer CD1d) and had increased secretion of the cytokine interferon gamma (IFN-³). Another study demonstrated that the innate lymphoid cells (ILC), which are important components of tissue reconstruction, were present in higher quantities in these patients, but its functionality was decreased compared to IL-4 and IL-13. Therefore, the objective of the project is to verify the interaction between NKT cells and ILCs and the influence in the immune response in coinfected patients with M. leprae and HIV, evaluating the possibility of enhancing the immune response in these patients, increasing the quality of life and reducing the pain of the same. (AU)