Open AccessAccelerated Control of VisceralLeishmania donovaniInfection in Interleukin-6-Deficient Mice
Author(s) -
Henry W. Murray
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
infection and immunity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.508
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1070-6313
pISSN - 0019-9567
DOI - 10.1128/iai.00490-08
Subject(s) - leishmania donovani , visceral leishmaniasis , biology , immunology , leishmaniasis , leishmania , interferon gamma , interleukin , intracellular parasite , interleukin 2 , macrophage , interleukin 4 , immune system , cytokine , parasite hosting , in vitro , biochemistry , world wide web , computer science
In patients with visceral leishmaniasis, increased levels of circulating interleukin-6 (IL-6) regularly accompany fully expressed, progressive infections (kala-azar). To experimentally test the role of IL-6, responses to an intracellularLeishmania donovani infection in the livers of IL-6−/− and wild-type mice were compared. IL-6−/− mice showed an enhanced control of the infection and earlier, rapid parasite killing along with additional evidence of a stimulated antileishmanial Th1-cell-type response: increased levels of circulating gamma interferon, accelerated granuloma assembly, and heightened responsiveness to chemotherapy. In this model of visceral leishmaniasis, IL-6 appears to act in a suppressive, macrophage-deactivating fashion, which identifies it as a potential target for therapeutic blockade.