Expression of Pro-inflammatory Genes in Lesions and Neutrophils during Leishmania major Infection in BALB/c Mice

<p><strong><em>Background:</em></strong> Leishmaniasis is a worldwide disease prevalent in tropical and sub- tropical countries in the world. Characterization of inflammatory responses produced in cutaneous leishmaniasis has not yet been completed.</p><p><strong><em>Methods:</em></strong> The specific primers were designed for ten <em>pro-inflammatory</em><em> </em>genes including CCL4, CCL3, TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-12P35, IL-12P40, CCL5, CCR5, IL-1β and IFN- γ and their expression were assessed and compared using RT-PCR in the lesion and peripheral blood <em>neutrophils</em> in <em>Leishmania</em> infected BALB/c mice.</p><p><strong><em>Results:</em></strong> None of the pro-inflammatory genes was expressed in the healthy tissue and except IFN-γ others were down-regulated by the parasite in the lesion in untreated mice. In mice treated with anti-Leishmanial drugs, the expression of the <em>pro</em><em>-</em><em>inflammatory</em> genes restarted. The figure of <em>pro-inflammatory</em> gene expression in <em>neutrophils</em> was different was from the lesions in treated and untreated mice.</p><strong><em>Conclusion:</em></strong><em> Leishmania</em> is capable to suppress the expression of pro-inflammatory genes in the lesions but not in neutrophils. The expression of TNF-α in the lesions and down-regulation of IL-1β in <em>neutrophils could be accounted as an indication for healing of cutaneous leishmaniasis</em><em>.</em> The results open a new window on characterization of <em>Leishmania</em> lesions and clarifying the role of neutrophils in <em>Leishmania</em> infections