Immuno-biochemical comparison of susceptible BALB/c and resistant C57BL/6 mice responses to Leishmania major infection

Abstract number: P1925

Amini M., Nahrevanian H., Khatami S., Farahmand M., Javadian S., Fayaz S., Mirkhani F.

Objectives: This study has been carried out to compare the pathophysiological signs, production of nitric oxide, serum concentration of microelements and liver enzymes including Aspartate Transaminase (AST), Alanin Transaminase (ALT) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) in two different susceptible BALB/c and resistant C57BL/6 mice infected with Leishmania major MRHO/IR/75/ER; as a prevalent strain of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iran.

Methods: In order to carry out this investigation, mice were assigned into 4 groups of 5 mice as control BALB/c, infected BALB/c, control C57BL/6 and infected C57BL/6. Experimental Leishmaniasis was initiated by subcutaneous injection of promastigotes into the basal tail of test groups. The development of lesions was determined weekly by measuring the two diameters. After 10 weeks, all mice were killed humanly by terminal anaesthesia and target tissues including lymph nodes, spleen and liver from each mouse were removed, weighted and their impression smears were also prepared. Griess microassay method applied for measurement of NO concentration in plasma, liver and spleen suspensions. Serum microelements including Zn and Cu were determined by direct aspiration of 1:10 dilution of serum in deionised water into the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Serum AST, ALT and ALP were determined by Auto Analyzer Technical RA1000.

Results: NO concentration in plasma, NO2 concentration in tissues, progress of lesion size, proliferation of amastigotes inside macrophages, pathogical signs and biochemical factors in two susceptible and resistant hosts are varied and these variations are depended on mice strain.

Conclusion: Analysis of data from this study revealed an association between RNI levels with the evolution of disease, which had effects on pathological sign and able to modify clinical signs. Zn deficiency in plasma of susceptible BALB/c mice infected with L. major indicates possible therapeutic administration of Zn in this form of leishmaniasis. Increase in Cu level in C57BL/6 mice might augment resistant to infection with intracellular pathogens. Our data indicate that Cu/Zn imbalance can be useful marker for dysfunction in leishmaniasis. Alteration of liver enzymes concentration is a consequence of leishmaniasis among BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. Finally we concluded that differences between susceptible BALB/c and resistant C57BL/6 mice were correlated with genetically induced immuno-biochemical factors.