Platelet activating factor receptor-deficient mice present delayed interferon-γ upregulation and high susceptibility to Leishmania amazonensis infection

We investigated the role of the platelet activation factor (PAF) receptor (PAFR) in the outcome of infection with Leishmania amazonensis. PAFR deficient (PAFR−/−) mice were infected with L. amazonensis and the course of infection was followed. We found that PAFR−/− mice in the C57BL/6 background were more susceptible to infection with L. amazonensis than the wild-type controls, as seen both by lesion size and parasite number at the site of infection. Interferon (IFN)-γ production was delayed in PAFR−/− mice, and lower levels of Ccl5 were found in lesions. Expression of nitric oxide synthase-2 mRNA was found impaired in PAFR−/− associated with higher levels of arginase-1 mRNA. Moreover, higher levels of antibodies were produced in response to L. amazonensis by PAFR−/− mice. We conclude that signaling through the PAFR is essential for the ability of the murine host to control L. amazonensis infection by driving an adequate immune response.