Differential structure and immunomodulatory functions of lipophosphoglycan between Leishmania spp

• Published in: Immunology letters 2024-08, Vol.268, p.106885, Article 106885
• Main Authors: Teufel, Lisa U., Joosten, Leo A.B., dos Santos, Jéssica C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Immunomodulation; Leishmania spp; Leishmaniasis; Lipophosphoglycan
• ISSN: 0165-2478; 1879-0542; 1879-0542
• DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2024.106885

•LPG has therapeutic potential as immunotherapy against leishmaniasis or cancer.•LPG-based vaccines may induce cell-mediated immunity against leishmaniasis.•Leishmania LPG is highly variable and has diverse immunomodulatory properties.•Variations in LPG shape host immune responses against Leishmania parasites.•Characterisation of the structure of LPG is key for synthesis and medical applications. Leishmaniasis is a collective term for several tropical, neglected diseases caused by protozoans of the species Leishmania, 20 of which causing disease in humans ranging from localised self-healing lesions to chronic manifestations which affect the skin or inner organs. Although millions of infections are accounted for annually, treatment options are scarce and limited to medication associated with heavy side-effects and increasing antibiotic resistance. Case studies point towards immunotherapy as effective alternative treatment relying on immunomodulatory properties of e.g., the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine. Leishmania parasites are also known to modulate the immune system, yet the underlying macromolecules and surface molecules remain widely under characterised. With this short review, we aim to provide a complete summary of the existing literature describing one of the most expressed surface molecule on Leishmania spp, lipophosphoglycan (LPG), which shows great variability between different lifecycle stages and different Leishmania spp. Complete characterisation of LPG may aid to improve treatment and aid the development of vaccination strategies, and open new avenues to exploit the immunomodulatory properties of LPG in unrelated conditions.