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  • Evaluation of IL-12RB1, IL-12B, CXCR-3 and IL-17a expression in cases affected by a non-healing form of cutaneous leishmaniasis: an observational study design

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Immunology (including allergy)
Protocol
Evaluation of IL-12RB1, IL-12B, CXCR-3 and IL-17a expression in cases affected by a non-healing form of cutaneous leishmaniasis: an observational study design
  1. Mohammad Moafi1,
  2. Hossein Rezvan1,
  3. Roya Sherkat2,
  4. Roya Taleban2,
  5. Ali Asilian3,
  6. Seyed Hamid Zarkesh Esfahani4,
  7. Mohammad Ali Nilforoushzadeh5,
  8. Fariba Jaffary3,
  9. Awat Feizi6
  1. 1Faculty of Veterinary Science, Department of Pathobiology, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran
  2. 2Acquired Immunodeficiency Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
  3. 3Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
  4. 4Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
  5. 5Skin and Stem Cell Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  6. 6Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
  1. Correspondence to Dr Hossein Rezvan; hosseinrezvanbas{at}gmail.com

Abstract

Introduction Seldom cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) may present as a lasting and active lesion(s), known as a non-healing form of CL (NHCL). Non-functional type 1 T helper (Th1) cells are assumed the most important factor in the outcome of the disease. The present study aims to assess some molecular defects that potentially contribute to Th1 impairment in NHCL.

Methods and analysis This prospective observational study will be implemented among five groups. The first and second groups comprise patients afflicted with non-healing and healing forms of CL, respectively. The third group consists of those recovered participants who have scars as a result of CL. Those participants who have never lived or travelled to endemic areas of leishmaniasis will comprise the fourth group. The fifth group comprises participants living in hyperendemic areas for leishmaniasis, although none of them have been afflicted by CL. The aim is to recruit 10 NHCL cases and 30 participants in each of the other groups. A leishmanin skin test (LST) will be performed to assess in vivo immunity against the Leishmania infection. The cytokine profile (interleukin (IL)-12p70, interferon (IFN)-γ, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand (CXCL)-11 and IL-17a) of the isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) will be evaluated through ELISA. Real-time PCR will determine the C-X-C motif chemokine receptor (CXCR)-3 and IL-17a gene expression and expression of IL-12Rβ1 will be assessed by flow cytometry. Furthermore, IL-12B and IL-12RB1 mutation analysis will be performed.

Discussion It is anticipated that the outcome of the current study will identify IL-12B and IL-12RB1 mutations, which lead to persistent lesions of CL. Furthermore, our expected results will reveal an association between NHCL and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-12p70, IFN-γ IL-17a and CXCL-11), as well as CXCR-3 expression.

Ethics and dissemination This study has been approved by a local ethical committee. The final results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences.

  • IMMUNOLOGY
  • PARASITOLOGY

This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2016-013006

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Footnotes

  • Contributors HR, RS, MM, RT, AA, SHZ, MAN, FJ and AF developed the original proposal. HR, MM and RS prepared the first draft of the present manuscript with the support of all authors. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

  • Funding This research was financially supported by Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Ethics approval This study has been approved by Ethical Committee of Hamedan University of Medical Sciences (HUMS) (Code: IR.UMSHA.REC.1395.120).

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

  • Data sharing statement Final results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences.