Abstract
Background: Understanding the immune pathogenesis mechanisms of leishmaniasis is crucial for developing effective therapeutic interventions. In this study, we investigated the effect of ivermectin (IVE) on the expression of transcription factors GATA-binding protein 3 (GATA-3), T-bet, and ROR-γt as well as wound healing Leishmania infection. Methods: Leishmania promastigotes were subcutaneously inoculated into the tail base of BALB/c mice (n = 10 per group) who later received phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), IVE, Glucantime, or a combination of IVE and Glucantime as soon as wounds developed, approximately three weeks' postinfection. The treatment continued daily for 2 weeks. The diameter of the wound was measured weekly over 6 weeks. In addition, in the sixth week, the mRNA expression of T-bet, GATA-3, and ROR-γt in splenic T cells was assessed through real-time PCR analysis. Results: The findings of this research indicated a significant reduction in the lesion size among the treated groups compared with the control group (p < 0.05). IVE had a similar effect to Glucantime in reducing wound diameter (p > 0.05). Furthermore, the combined use of Glucantime and IVE led to the most reduction in the lesion size among all groups. The treated groups exhibited higher expression levels of T-bet and ROR-γt and lower levels of GATA-3 compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: IVE has shown significant efficacy in accelerating the healing process of wounds related to leishmaniasis. In addition, the administration of this medication has triggered a strong immune response, marked by activation of T helper 1 (Th1) and Th17 cells while also modulating Th2 responses.