[HTML][HTML] IL-17 and IL-22 are associated with protection against human kala azar caused by Leishmania donovani

MGR Pitta, A Romano, S Cabantous… - The Journal of …, 2009 - Am Soc Clin Investig
MGR Pitta, A Romano, S Cabantous, S Henri, A Hammad, B Kouriba, L Argiro, M el Kheir…
The Journal of clinical investigation, 2009Am Soc Clin Investig
IL-17 and IL-22 have been shown to increase protection against certain bacteria and fungal
pathogens in experimental models. However, no human studies have demonstrated a
crucial role of IL-17 and IL-22 in protection against infections. We show here that
Leishmania donovani, which can cause the lethal visceral disease Kala Azar (KA),
stimulates the differentiation of Th17 cells, which produce IL-17, IL-22, and IFN-γ. Analysis of
Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokine responses by cultured PBMCs from individuals in a cohort of …
IL-17 and IL-22 have been shown to increase protection against certain bacteria and fungal pathogens in experimental models. However, no human studies have demonstrated a crucial role of IL-17 and IL-22 in protection against infections. We show here that Leishmania donovani, which can cause the lethal visceral disease Kala Azar (KA), stimulates the differentiation of Th17 cells, which produce IL-17, IL-22, and IFN-γ. Analysis of Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokine responses by cultured PBMCs from individuals in a cohort of subjects who developed KA or were protected against KA during a severe outbreak showed that IL-17 and IL-22 were strongly and independently associated with protection against KA. Our results suggest that, along with Th1 cytokines, IL-17 and IL-22 play complementary roles in human protection against KA, and that a defect in Th17 induction may increase the risk of KA.
The Journal of Clinical Investigation