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Interleukin-27 Functional Duality Balances Leishmania Infectivity and Pathogenesis
Abdollah Jafarzadeh1,2, Maryam Nemati2,3, Prashant Chauhan4
1Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Frontiers in Immunology
|August 28, 2020
Summary
Interleukin-27 (IL-27) shows dual effects in Leishmania infections, aiding resistance against L. major but hindering Th1 responses in other species. Understanding this duality could lead to new anti-Leishmanial therapies.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Parasitology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Interleukin-27 (IL-27) is a cytokine with varied roles in immune responses.
- IL-27 is primarily expressed by macrophages and dendritic cells during early Leishmania infection.
- IL-27 exhibits a dual role in Leishmania infections, influencing both host resistance and susceptibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanism behind the functional duality of IL-27 in Leishmania infections.
- To explore the potential of IL-27 as a therapeutic target for anti-Leishmanial strategies.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of IL-27 expression patterns in macrophages and dendritic cells during Leishmania infection.
- Assessment of IL-27's impact on T-helper 1 (Th1) responses against various Leishmania species.
- Evaluation of IL-27's role in modulating immunopathogenic reactions and tissue damage during late-stage infection.
Main Results:
- IL-27 promotes protection against Leishmania major infection.
- IL-27 suppresses protective Th1 responses against Leishmania donovani, L. infantum, L. amazonensis, and L. braziliensis.
- IL-27 limits immunopathogenic reactions and tissue damage in late-stage Leishmania infections.
Conclusions:
- IL-27 possesses a functional duality in Leishmania infections, acting as both a protective and detrimental factor depending on the parasite species and infection stage.
- Further research into IL-27's mechanisms can pave the way for novel therapeutic approaches against Leishmaniasis.
