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Comparative immune study on cutaneous leishmaniasis patients with single and multiple sores
Ban Noori Al-Qadhi1, Israa Salim Musa1, Yassir Mustafa Kamal Al-Mulla Hummadi2
1Biology Department, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.
Insights
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) patients show specific IgE antibodies in early stages, correlating with sore count. Immune responses involve both Th-1 and Th-2, with higher levels in multiple sore cases.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Dermatology
Background:
- Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a parasitic disease caused by Leishmania tropica.
- Understanding the immune response in CL is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
- Previous studies suggest a role for T-helper cell subsets and antibodies in CL pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate cellular and humoral immune responses in Iraqi patients with CL.
- To investigate the correlation between immune markers and disease severity (single vs. multiple sores).
- To determine the role of specific IgE antibodies and cytokine profiles (IFN-γ, IL-4) in CL.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples from 95 CL patients, 10 atopic patients, and 30 healthy controls were analyzed.
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to quantify total IgE, IFN-γ, and IL-4.
- Specific anti-leishmanial IgE antibodies were detected manually.
Main Results:
- Specific IgE antibodies were detected in 71.57% of early CL patients (<2 months) but not in late CL, atopic, or healthy controls.
- A positive correlation was observed between specific IgE levels and the number of sores.
- Patients with multiple sores exhibited higher levels of anti-leishmanial IgE, total IgE, IFN-γ, and IL-4 compared to single-sore patients.
Conclusions:
- The immune response in CL involves both Th-1 and Th-2 pathways, with a shift from Th-2 in early stages to Th-1 in later stages.
- Specific IgE antibodies are indicative of early-stage CL and correlate with disease burden.
- Multiple sores in CL patients are associated with a more pronounced immune response, suggesting a potential indicator of disease severity.
Abstract:
Ninety-five Iraqi patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) caused by Leishmania tropica at AL-Karama Hospital in Baghdad were included in this study. Sixty patients were with single sore and the remaining with multiple sores. The study also included 10 atopic patients and 30 healthy individuals as a control group. Cellular and humoral immune response at different stages of the disease activity (early and late) were evaluated by estimation of serum IFN-γ, IL-4 and total IgE antibodies using ELISA kits while, the detection of specific anti leishmanial IgE antibodies was done manually. Specific IgE antibodies were only detected in early CL (<2 months) patients 68 (71.57 %) while, were not detected in late CL, atopic and healthy controls 30 (100 %). The results also showed a positive relationship between this antibody and the number of sores. Th-2 predominates during the early stage of the disease then shifts to Th-1 that proceed in the late stage, but both cytokines increased in CL patients in comparison to control group. The immune response of CL infection is possibly regulated by both Th-1 and Th-2. Multiple sores patients showed an increase of anti leishmanial IgE (0.120 ± 0.014), total IgE (120.7 ± 39.58 IU/ml), IFN-γ (87.4 ± 30.52 pg/ml) and IL-4 (63.70 ± 20.32 pg/ml) levels than single sore patients with mean value of 0.108 ± 0.14, 92.3 ± 35.23 IU/ml, 47.2 ± 27.80 pg/ml and 51.04 ± 15.0 pg/ml respectively. It can be presented also as ratio of INF-γ/IL-4 = 1.37 which is greater than those for single sore 0.9. These results indicated that the immune response of multiple sores patient's is higher than that with single sores.
