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Detection of intracellular IFN ‐γ and IL ‐4 cytokines in CD 4+ and CD 8+ T cells in the peripheral blood of dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum
Author(s) -
Matralis D.,
Papadogiannakis E.,
Kontos V.,
Papadopoulos E.,
Ktenas E.,
Koutinas A.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
parasite immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1365-3024
pISSN - 0141-9838
DOI - 10.1111/pim.12335
Subject(s) - immunology , leishmania infantum , flow cytometry , biology , antigen , immunity , canine leishmaniasis , immune system , leishmaniasis , visceral leishmaniasis
Summary Canine leishmaniosis (CanL) is a systemic zoonotic disease the clinical manifestations of which can range from self‐healing cutaneous lesions to disseminated visceral disease. Effective activation of cellular immunity is the cornerstone of resistance against Leishmania infantum in infected dogs. The aim of this cross‐sectional, controlled study was the intracellular detection of interleukin 4 ( IL ‐4) and interferon‐γ ( IFN ‐γ) in CD 4+ and CD 8+ lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of 40 dogs naturally infected with L. infantum by applying flow cytometry. The percentage of CD 4+ IL ‐4+ and CD 8+ IL ‐4+ lymphocytes (with or without immunostimulation) was low in the clinically healthy and subclinically infected dogs in contrast to clinically affected ones. In the same groups of dogs, the percentage of CD 4+ IFN ‐γ+ and CD 8+ IFN ‐γ+ T cells in their resting phase and following specific immunostimulation with Leishmania soluble antigen ( LSA ) was also low. CD 4+ IL ‐4+ and CD 8+ IL ‐4+ T cell percentage was higher in sick compared to clinically healthy and subclinically infected dogs, after immunostimulation. The corresponding figure of CD 8+ IL ‐4+ cells in sick dogs after LSA immunostimulation was also increased thus underlining the important role these cells may play in humoral immunity and perhaps the progression of CanL.