Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
9236626 | Clinical Immunology | 2005 | 10 Pages |
Abstract
During an epidemiological study of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in south-west Ethiopia, 33 VL patients, 9 treated VL patients, 14 individuals with sub-clinical infection, 34 individuals with asymptomatic infection, and 19 healthy controls were studied for T cell subsets and cytokine profiles. Negative leishmanin skin test, CD3 and CD4 lymphocytopenia, and significantly reduced numbers of memory CD4+ T cells were found in VL patients compared to treated VL patients or persons with self-limiting asymptomatic infection. The proportion of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells that produced IFN-γ and IL-4 after stimulation with PMA (Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate) and ionomycin was significantly reduced in VL patients compared to sub-clinical and asymptomatic infections or healthy controls. Plasma concentrations of IFN-γ and IL-10 were elevated in VL.
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Authors
Asrat Hailu, Debbie van Baarle, Gerlinde J. Knol, Nega Berhe, Frank Miedema, Piet A. Kager,