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Updated: Dec 13, 2025
In vivo Imaging of Transgenic Leishmania Parasites in a Live Host
Published on: July 27, 2010
Status of IL-4 and IL-10 driven markers in experimental models of Visceral Leishmaniasis
Srija Moulik1, Joyshree Karmakar2, Sumit Joshi3
1Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata, India.
Aim:
Leishmania donovani, the causative agent for visceral leishmaniasis (VL), modulates host monocytes/macrophages to ensure its survival. However, knowledge regarding the host-parasite interactions underpinning the disease remains limited. As disease progression is associated with polarization of monocytes/macrophages towards M2, which is regulated by cytokines IL-4/IL-13 and IL-10, this study evaluated the status of key IL-4- and IL-10 driven markers in experimental models of VL, as also evaluated their correlation, if any, with parasite load.
Methods:
In liver and splenic tissues from L donovani-infected hamsters and BALB/c mice, the parasite burden was determined along with mRNA expression of IL-4-driven markers, that is CD206, Arginase-I, CCL17, CCL22, PPAR-γ, STAT6, KLF4, FIZZ1 and YM1 along with IL-10-driven markers, CXCL13, IL-10, TGF-β, VDR, CCR2 and CYP27A1.
Results:
The mRNA expression of IL-4- and IL-10-driven markers was enhanced in both models, but only in the hamster model, the splenic tissues demonstrated a positive correlation between all the IL-10-driven markers and parasite load.
Conclusions:
Contrary to human VL, both models demonstrated an increased expression of IL-4- and IL-10-driven markers.
