Evaluation of the serum cytokines profile and nitric oxide in experimental murine leprosy

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47878/hi.2024.v49.39344

Keywords:

Leprosy, Models, Animal, Cytokines, Nitric Oxide, Immunity

Abstract

Introduction: leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae), an obligate intracellular parasite. Thus, host resistance to this pathogen depends on cellular immunity. The use of experimental models has made it possible to study leprosy from an immunological, microbiological, and therapeutic point of view. However, the differences in the progression of the infection between the most used models (immunocompetent mice, BALB/c, and congenitally athymic mice, nude) have been little studied. Objective: to compare the evolution of M. leprae infection in BALB/c and nude mice in terms of bacillary multiplication and evaluation of the systemic inflammatory profile by quantifying serum cytokines and nitric oxide (NO). Methods: the mice were inoculated with M. leprae in the footpads and evaluated at 3, 5, and 8 months after infection. Results: nude mice showed progressive bacillary multiplication in the footpads. In BALB/c mice, the number of bacilli was higher at 5 months. In terms of cytokine quantification, BALB/c mice showed an increase in IL-2 and IL-17A and a decrease in IL-6 and NO at 8 months of inoculation. In the nude mice, there was an increase in TNF at 8 months of inoculation and maintenance of NO levels. Conclusion: the results suggest that BALB/c mice activate an immune response capable of controlling the multiplication of M. leprae, where as in nude mice the infection is progressive despite high levels of TNF.

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References

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Published

2024-01-17

How to Cite

1.
Barbosa ASAA, Lima TS, Sartori BGC, Diório SM, Silva SMUR, Brito-de-Souza VN, Nogueira MRS, Rosa PS, Pedrini SCB, Vilani-Moreno FR. Evaluation of the serum cytokines profile and nitric oxide in experimental murine leprosy. Hansen. Int. [Internet]. 2024 Jan. 17 [cited 2024 May 20];49:1-15. Available from: https://periodicos.saude.sp.gov.br/hansenologia/article/view/39344

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