IL-18 contributes to susceptibility to Leishmania amazonensis infection by macrophage-independent mechanisms

Cytokine. 2015 Aug;74(2):327-30. doi: 10.1016/j.cyto.2015.01.021. Epub 2015 May 23.

Abstract

We evaluated the role of IL-18 during Leishmania amazonensis infection in C57BL/6 mice, using IL-18KO mice. We showed that IL-18 is involved in susceptibility to L. amazonensis, since IL-18KO mice presented reduced lesions and parasite loads. Because macrophages are the host cells of the parasite, we investigated if macrophages were involved in IL-18-mediated susceptibility to L. amazonensis. We showed that macrophages obtained from WT or IL-18KO responded similarly to L. amazonensis infection. Moreover, we showed that C57BL/6 macrophages do not respond to IL-18, since they do not express IL-18R. Therefore, macrophages are not involved in IL-18-mediated susceptibility to L. amazonensis.

Keywords: IL-18; Leishmania amazonensis; Leishmaniasis; Macrophage.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Interleukin-18 / genetics
  • Interleukin-18 / immunology*
  • Leishmania / immunology*
  • Leishmaniasis / genetics
  • Leishmaniasis / immunology*
  • Leishmaniasis / pathology
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Receptors, Interleukin-18 / genetics
  • Receptors, Interleukin-18 / immunology

Substances

  • Interleukin-18
  • Receptors, Interleukin-18