Suppression of host PTEN gene expression for Leishmania donovani survival in Indian visceral leishmaniasis

Lipid phosphatase, PTEN is amongst the host gene actively involved in determining disease susceptibility. Expression of pten and other genes in vicinity egr1 & 4e-bp1 were evaluated in splenic tissue before and after treatment in visceral leishmaniasis patients. Lower expression of egr1 in correlation with pten suppressed 4e-bp1 gene in active cases. The higher levels of pten mRNA expression post treatment confirmed its role in effective clearance of Leishmania. Therefore, it is hypothesized that lower mRNA expression of pten is due to suppression of egr1 activates PI3K signaling bestowing host the ability to cope up infection and continue its normal metabolic machinery.