Aims
The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of natural regulatory T cells (nTregs) in early and late cutaneous lesions of human Leishmania major (L. major) infection. Settings and design: Skin biopsies were collected from parasitologically proven lesions of 28 CL patients, divided into two groups of early and late lesions. The causative agents were identified to be L. major. Materials and
Conclusions
Increased in gene expression and protein staining of nTreg markers in chronic biopsy samples indicates a role for these cells in chronic L. major induced leishmaniasis and supports the effectiveness of regulatory T cell-based immunotherapy for treatment of chronic CL.
Methods
Quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunofluorescent staining of biopsies were used to assess the Foxp3 mRNA expression and frequency of nTregs in two groups. Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine the significance of deference between the two groups.
Results
Mean relative expressions of Foxp3 mRNA were 0.53 ± 0.23 and 1.26 ± 0.99 in early and late lesions, respectively, which was significantly upper in chronic lesions (P = 0.007). Parallel results were obtained in tissue staining method. Conclusions: Increased in gene expression and protein staining of nTreg markers in chronic biopsy samples indicates a role for these cells in chronic L. major induced leishmaniasis and supports the effectiveness of regulatory T cell-based immunotherapy for treatment of chronic CL.