Histopathology of Leishmania major infection: revisiting L. major histopathology in the ear dermis infection model

Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2009 Sep;104(6):918-22. doi: 10.1590/s0074-02762009000600017.

Abstract

We describe the relationship between lesion outcome and histopathological hallmarks in susceptible (BALB/c) and resistant (C57BL/6 and IL-4-deficient BALB/c) mouse strains over the course of a 12-week-infection with Leishmania major in the ear. The infiltration of mononuclear cells and polymorphonuclear cells occurred within 6 h and mononuclear cells predominated one week post-infection. Permissive intracellular growth of the pathogen was associated with non-healing lesions. In contrast, tissue damage and clearance of the parasite was observed in healing lesions and was associated with inducible nitric oxide synthase expression. The identification of the structural components of tissue reaction to the parasite in this study furthers our understanding of subjacent immune effector mechanisms.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Ear, External / parasitology*
  • Ear, External / pathology
  • Female
  • Interleukin-4 / deficiency
  • Interleukin-4 / immunology*
  • Leishmania major*
  • Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / immunology
  • Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / pathology*
  • Male
  • Mast Cells / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / immunology*

Substances

  • Interleukin-4
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II