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Updated: Dec 18, 2025

In vivo Imaging of Transgenic Leishmania Parasites in a Live Host
Published on: July 27, 2010
IL-1 family and Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: A poorly understood relationship
Ester Alves da Silva Amorim1, Áquila Alcântara de França1, Valéria Rêgo Alves Pereira2
1Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Academic Center of Vitória (CAV), Rua do Alto do Reservatório s/n, Bela Vista, Vitória de Santo Antão, Pernambuco, PE, 55608-680, Brazil; Oswaldo Cruz Pernambuco Foundation (Fiocruz/PE), Department of Immunology, Av. Moraes Rego, s/n - Cidade Universitária, 50670-420, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
Abstract:
The cytokines of the interleukin (IL) -1 family act in the initiation of an effective immune response in Leishmania infection, represented mainly by the T helper 1 (Th1) profile, in addition to being associated with disease exacerbation and controversial contributions in the Th2 responses. The family also includes members who self-regulate inflammation, such as antagonists and anti-inflammatory cytokines, most of which have not yet been studied in Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) in humans. Here we summarize findings about what is known so far about the role of these cytokines in mice, the main study model, and in humans. We reinforce the importance of studies of these cytokines as new targets in the context of CL.

