Journal d'immunologie clinique et cellulaire
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Pre-challenge Evaluation of Immune Response in Serum Cytokines (Th1 and Th2) and T-cell Markers (CD4, CD8, CD3, and CD25) Following Administration of New Formulated Leishmania Vaccine in Balb/c Mice

Afshineh Latifynia, Mohamad Hosein Niknam, Samad Farashi Bonab, Bita Ansaripour, Zahra Gheflati and Mohammad Javad Gharagozlou

Leishmaniasis is considered an endemic disease that is a major public health concern in Iran and elsewhere. It is suggested that an effective immune response against leishmaniasis is T cells-mediated immunity that provides immunity against leishmania infection. The formulation and production of an immunogenic, effective, and safe vaccine to control leishmania infection is a necessity. Due to the complexity of the biological behavior of the leishmania parasite and its host immune response, the formulation and production of a safe and a protective vaccine is a difficult but worthwhile endeavor to tackle health problems.

Methods: In this study, we evaluated pre-challenged immune responses related to the Th1 (IFN-gamma and IL-12) and Th2 (IL-4 and IL-10) cytokine profiles, and the CD4, CD8, CD3, and CD25 markers of T cells. This measurement was followed by vaccination accompanied by two one-week interval boosters with the leishmania major antigen preparations adjuvant with BCG or alcoholic extract of Teucrium polium plant or both at 100 and 200 micrograms of the crude antigen/0.1 ml per mouse. This experiment was performed on six groups of leishmania-susceptible Balb/c mice.

Results: The statistical analysis of the data related to the T cells or lymphoid cells with the different markers, including CD8, CD3, and CD25, indicated that there were no significant differences between seven groups of animals; however, the differences were significant when the CD4 T cells were considered. On comparing the cytokines levels in the antigen-injected groups and the control group, the results showed only significant differences in serum IL-12 levels. Conclusion: It was concluded that, as shown in previous studies and the present research, the vaccine could not only induce a protective immunity in Balb/c mice, but it also did not produce deleterious responses as shown through clinical monitoring and even resulted in a 100% survival rate of the experimental animals.