Organ-specific immune profiling of Leishmania donovani-infected hamsters

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected disease with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations and involvement of visceral organs. Organ-specific immune response against the Leishmania donovani (Ld) complex is not yet understood due to the unavailability of an appropriate experimental model. In reference to our recent work on comparing the hamster model with VL patients, it is now possible to understand immune profiling in different visceral organs. This may offer an answer to varying parasite loads in different visceral organs in the same host. Herein, we analysed a panel of immune markers (Th-2/Th-1) in visceral organs of Ld-infected hamsters and quantified parasitic load in the same tissues using qPCR assay. In spleen, liver, bone marrow and lymph node (mesenteric) from Ld-infected hamsters, the parasite burden was quantified along with mRNA expression of a panel of Th-2 and Th-1 type immune markers, namely IL-10, IL-4, Arginase-I, GATA-3, SOCS-3, IL-12, IFN-gamma, iNOS, T-bet and SOCS-5. A clear dichotomy was absent between Th-2 and Th-1 type immune markers and the major players of this immune response were IFN-gamma, IL-10, T-bet, GATA-3, SOCS-5 and SOCS-3.

Automated summary

In this study, the parasite burden and mRNA expression levels of a panel of Th-2 and Th-1 type immune markers were quantified in the spleen, liver, bone marrow, and mesenteric lymph node of hamsters infected with Leishmania donovani. The results showed that IFN-gamma, IL-10, T-bet, GATA-3, SOCS-5, and SOCS-3 were the major players in this immune response.