Open AccessLeishmania‐specific T cells expressing interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) and IL‐10 upon activation are expanded in individuals cured of visceral leishmaniasis
Author(s) -
K. Kemp,
Michael Kemp,
Arsalan Kharazmi,
Ahmed Ismail,
Jørgen A. L. Kurtzhals,
Lars Hviid,
Thor G. Theander
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
clinical & experimental immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1365-2249
pISSN - 0009-9104
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2249.1999.00918.x
Subject(s) - immunology , cytokine , biology , peripheral blood mononuclear cell , antigen , visceral leishmaniasis , leishmania , leishmania major , interferon gamma , interleukin 12 , leishmaniasis , cytotoxic t cell , in vitro , parasite hosting , biochemistry , world wide web , computer science
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients who have recovered from visceral leishmaniasis often respond to Leishmania antigens in vitro by production of both IL‐4, IFN‐γ and IL‐10. In order to establish the cellular sources of these cytokines, we activated cells from individuals with a history of visceral leishmaniasis with Leishmania antigen for 6 days in culture, and identified cytokine production at the single‐cell level by flow cytometry. The cytokines were only found in CD3 + cells and among these mainly within the CD4 + subset. The percentage of cytokine‐producing cells was compared in Leishmania ‐activated PBMC cultures from the previous patients and from individuals living in a village where leishmaniasis does not occur. The percentage of IL‐10‐ and IFN‐γ‐containing cells was significantly higher in the previous patients than in the controls, indicating that Leishmania ‐specific T cells producing IL‐10 and/or IFN‐γ had been expanded as a result of the infection. The cytokine‐producing cells in the previous patients could be divided into three types: (i) cells producing IFN‐γ only; (ii) cells producing IL‐4 only; and (iii) cells producing IFN‐γ and IL‐10 simultaneously. The first and second group of cells can be described as Th1‐ and Th2‐type cells, respectively. The third group could be a regulatory subset of T cells important for maintaining a balance between Th1‐ and Th2‐type cells in these individuals.