Central role of interleukin-15 in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with visceral leishmaniasis.
To evaluate clinical and immunological parameters, interleukin (IL)-15 production and outcome of patients with visceral leishmaniasis (VL), including HIV positive patients, we analyzed 48 cases of VL. Clinical manifestations and response to therapy were similar in VL/HIV- and VL/HIV+ patients. However, relapses were more frequent in patients with HIV infection. Low levels of IL-15 concentrations were found in HIV+ patients without VL. These levels were comparable to concentrations obtained in healthy donors. We found a relationship between response to therapy and IL-15 levels. We found increased levels of IL-15 in VL/HIV- and VL/HIV+ patients with clinical and parasitological response to therapy. Our data demonstrate that VL in HIV-infected patients occurs in subjects with severe immunodeficiency and presents high rate of relapses. Low levels of IL-15 in illness patients and restored production in cured persons suggest that this cytokine could play a central role in immune responses during Leishmania/HIV co-infection.
Duke Scholars
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- Tropical Medicine
- Male
- Longitudinal Studies
- Leishmaniasis, Visceral
- Leishmania
- Interleukin-15
- Humans
- HIV Infections
- HIV
- Female
Citation
Published In
DOI
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Tropical Medicine
- Male
- Longitudinal Studies
- Leishmaniasis, Visceral
- Leishmania
- Interleukin-15
- Humans
- HIV Infections
- HIV
- Female