Interleukin-27 Functional Duality Balances Leishmania Infectivity and Pathogenesis

Front Immunol. 2020 Aug 7:11:1573. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01573. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

IL-27 is a cytokine that exerts diverse effects on the cells of innate and adaptive immune systems. Chiefly expressed in macrophages and dendritic cells during the early phase of Leishmania infection, IL-27 contributes to the protection against L. major infection but suppresses the protective Th1 response against L. donovani, L. infantum, L. amazonensis and L. braziliensis infections, suggesting its functional duality. During the late stage of Leishmania infection, IL-27 limits the immunopathogenic reactions and tissue damages. Herein, we analyze the mechanism of the functional duality of IL-27 in the resistance or susceptibility to Leishmania infection, prompting IL-27 for anti-Leishmanial therapy.

Keywords: EBI3; IL-27; Leishmania; WSX-1; p28.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptive Immunity
  • Animals
  • Biomarkers
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Disease Susceptibility*
  • Host-Parasite Interactions / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Immunomodulation
  • Interleukins / deficiency
  • Interleukins / genetics
  • Interleukins / metabolism*
  • Leishmania / immunology*
  • Leishmaniasis / etiology*
  • Leishmaniasis / metabolism*
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neutrophil Infiltration / immunology
  • Signal Transduction
  • Spleen / immunology
  • Spleen / metabolism
  • Spleen / pathology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Cytokines
  • Interleukins
  • MYDGF protein, human