Expression of Foxp3, TGF-beta and IL-10 in American cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions

Author(s)

Rodrigues, F. M. D. ^[1] ; Coelho Neto, G. T. ^[2] ; Menezes, J. G. P. B. ^[1] ; Gama, M. E. A. ^[3] ; Goncalves, E. G. ^[2] ; Silva, A. R. ^[2] ; Laurenti, M. D. ^[1] ; Corbett, C. E. P. ^[1] ; Silveira, F. T. ^{[4, 5]} ; Gomes, C. M. C. ^{[1, 6]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Med, Dept Pathol, BR-01246903 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Maranhao, Dept Pathol, BR-6500000 Sao Luis, Maranhao - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Maranhao, Dept Med Pediat 3, BR-65020270 Sao Luis, Maranhao - Brazil

^[4] Minist Hlth, Evandro Chagas Inst, Dept Parasitol, BR-67030000 Ananindeua, Para - Brazil

^[5] Fed Univ Para, Inst Trop Med, BR-01246903 Belem, Para - Brazil

^[6] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Dept Patol, BR-01246903 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ARCHIVES OF DERMATOLOGICAL RESEARCH; v. 306, n. 2, p. 163-171, MAR 2014.
• Web of Science Citations: 12

Abstract

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a unique population of CD25+CD4+ T cells that regulate innate and adaptive immune responses and have the ability to control the excessive or misdirected effects of the immune system. This modulation involves different mechanisms, such as the suppression of T cell proliferation and cytokine production, the secretion of suppressive cytokines (IL-10 and TGF-beta) and the induction of effector T cell apoptosis in humans with infectious diseases such as Leishmania infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of Foxp3, IL-10 and TGF-beta through immunohistochemistry in 22 skin biopsies of patients with localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL) caused by Leishmania (Viannia) spp. from an endemic area in pre-Amazonian area of Maranho State, Brazil. The density of these markers was also analyzed according to the species of parasite and the progression of the disease. The cellular density was 234 cells/mmA(2) for Foxp3+ cells, 357 cells/mmA(2) for TGF-beta+ cells and 648 cells/mmA(2) for IL-10+ cells in the studied skin lesions. The analysis of the cellular density of these immunological markers in relation to the species of Leishmania demonstrated that lesions caused by L. (V.) braziliensis had a lower density of Foxp3+ cells than lesions caused by L. (Viannia) spp. The expression of IL-10 was also lower in lesions caused by L. (V.) braziliensis. There were no significant differences in TGF-beta expression between the two groups. The evaluation of these markers according to the progression of the disease did not reveal any significant differences. These findings suggest that Treg Foxp3+ cells, IL-10, and TGF-beta play important roles in the immunopathogenesis of LCL and that these roles differ depending on the causal Leishmania species. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 06/56319-1 - Leishmaniasis in Brazil: clinical and immunopathogenetic aspects of the human and experimental disease
• Grantee: Carlos Eduardo Pereira Corbett
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants