IFN-γ, IL-2, IP-10, and MIG as Biomarkers of Exposure to Leishmania spp., and of Cure in Human Visceral Leishmaniasis

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Abstract
New biomarkers are needed for monitoring the effectiveness of treatment for visceral leishmaniasis (VL). They might also improve the detection of the asymptomatic population in Leishmania-endemic areas. This paper examines the IL-2, IFN-g, IFN-g-induced protein 10 (IP-10) and monokine-induced-by-IFN-g (MIG) levels in whole blood - stimulated in vitro with soluble Leishmania antigen (SLA) - taken from asymptomatic individuals and patients treated for VL living in a post-outbreak (L. infantum) area in Spain, and in an endemic (L. donovani) area of Bangladesh. IP-10 was found to be an accurate global marker of asymptomatic subjects with positive cellular/humoral tests, while MIG was found to be a better marker of contact with L. donovani than IL-2 but no for those with L.infantum. Determining IP-10, MIG and IFN-g levels proved useful in monitoring the cellular immune response following treatment for active disease caused by L. infantum.
Funding Information
  • Instituto de Salud Carlos III (RD12/0018/0003, RD12/0018/0008 and PI13/00440)
  • Department for International Development, UK Government

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