Differential Expression of Chemokines in Patients with Localized and Diffuse Cutaneous American Leishmaniasis

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Abstract
The abundance of macro phages in localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL) and diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis (DCL) lesions and differences in the composition of T cell subsets indicate involvement of cell-specific chemotaxis processes. The expression of macrophage chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α and -1β, RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted), I-309, and interleukin-8 were investigated in lesions of patients with LCL or DCL. In LCL, high levels of MCP-1 and moderate levels of MIP-1α were detected. In DCL, MCP-1 expression was significantly lower and MIP-1α expression was predominant. All other chemokines investigated were minimally expressed or absent. These findings suggest that MCP-1 and MIP-1α are responsible for the recruitment of macrophages and T cells in cutaneous leishmaniasis. The results show that self-healing LCL is associated with higher levels of MCP-1, which may stimulate macrophage microbicidal mechanisms, and nonhealing DCL is associated with higher levels of MIP-1α.

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