Open AccessInduction of miR 21 impairs the anti-Leishmania response through inhibition of IL-12 in canine splenic leukocytes
Author(s) -
Larissa Martins Melo,
Jaqueline Poleto Bragato,
Gabriela Lovizutto Venturin,
Gabriela Torres Rebech,
Sidnei Ferro Costa,
Leandro Encarnação Garcia,
Fernanda Lopes,
Flávia de Rezende Eugênio,
Paulo Sérgio Patto dos Santos,
Valéria Marçal Felix de Lima
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0226192
Subject(s) - leishmania infantum , spleen , visceral leishmaniasis , immune system , biology , immunology , microrna , leishmania , downregulation and upregulation , microbiology and biotechnology , leishmaniasis , parasite hosting , gene , biochemistry , world wide web , computer science
Visceral Leishmaniasis is a chronic zoonosis and, if left untreated, can be fatal. Infected dogs have decreased cellular immunity (Th1) and develop a potent humoral response (Th2), which is not effective for elimination of the protozoan. Immune response can be modulated by microRNAs (miRNAs), however, characterization of miRNAs and their possible regulatory role in the spleen of infected dogs have not been done. We evaluated miRNA expression in splenic leukocytes (SL) from dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum and developing leishmaniasis (CanL; n = 8) compared to healthy dogs (n = 4). Microarray analysis showed increased expression of miR 21, miR 148a, miR 7 and miR 615, and downregulation of miR 150, miR 125a and miR 125b. Real-time PCR validated the differential expression of miR 21, miR 148a and miR 615. Further, decrease of miR 21 in SL, by means of transfection with a miR 21 inhibitor, increased the IL-12 cytokine and the T-bet/GATA-3 ratio, and decreased parasite load on SL of dogs with CanL. Taken together, these findings suggest that L . infantum infection alters splenic expression of miRNAs and that miR 21 interferes in the cellular immune response of L . infantum -infected dogs, placing this miRNA as a possible therapeutic target in CanL.