Zinc/copper imbalance reflects immune dysfunction in human leishmaniasis: an ex vivo and in vitro study

The process of elimination of intracellular pathogens, such as Leishmania, requires a Th1 type immune response, whereas a dominant Th2 response leads to exacerbated disease. Experimental human zinc deficiency decreases Th1 but not Th2 immune response. We investigated if zinc and copper levels differ...

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Published in:BMC infectious diseases 2004-11, Vol.4 (1), p.50-50, Article 50
Main Authors: Van Weyenbergh, Johan, Santana, Gisélia, D'Oliveira, Jr, Argemiro, Santos, Jr, Anibal F, Costa, Carlos H, Carvalho, Edgar M, Barral, Aldina, Barral-Netto, Manoel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Animals
Antibodies, Protozoan - blood
Case-Control Studies
Copper - administration & dosage
Copper - blood
Copper - deficiency
Female
Humans
Immunity, Cellular
Immunoglobulin G - blood
Interferon-gamma - biosynthesis
Leishmania
Leishmania - immunology
Leishmaniasis - blood
Leishmaniasis - immunology
Lymphocyte Activation
Male
Th1 Cells - immunology
Th2 Cells - immunology
Zinc - blood
Zinc - deficiency
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Summary:The process of elimination of intracellular pathogens, such as Leishmania, requires a Th1 type immune response, whereas a dominant Th2 response leads to exacerbated disease. Experimental human zinc deficiency decreases Th1 but not Th2 immune response. We investigated if zinc and copper levels differ in different clinical forms of leishmaniasis, and if these trace metals might be involved in the immune response towards the parasite. Blood was collected from 31 patients with either localized cutaneous (LCL), mucosal (ML) or visceral (VL) leishmaniasis, as well as from 25 controls from endemic and non-endemic areas. Anti-Leishmania humoral and cellular immune response were evaluated by quantifying specific plasma IgG, lymphoproliferation and cytokine production, respectively. Plasma levels of Cu and Zn were quantified by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. A significant decrease in plasma Zn was observed in all three patient groups (p < 0.01 for LCL and ML, p < 0.001 for VL), as compared to controls, but only VL (7/10) and ML (1/7) patients displayed overt Zn deficiency. Plasma Cu was increased in LCL and VL (p < 0.001) but not in ML, and was strongly correlated to anti-Leishmania IgG (Spearman r = 0.65, p = 0.0028). Cu/Zn ratios were highest in patients with deficient cellular (VL
ISSN:1471-2334
1471-2334
DOI:10.1186/1471-2334-4-50