Immunology of Leishmania

Abstract

In view of existing knowledge, lymphocytes, macrophages (MΦ) and antibody co-operation the major components of the immune system are necessary for protection against the leishmania infection. The death of the parasite occurs either by stimulation of the sensitized lymphocytes through antigen load or by activating macrophages. Active VL disease is characterized by the marked elevation of humoral immune response i.e. by the production of plenty of specific as well as non-specific antibodies (Ghose et al. 1980; Ghosh et al. 1995). Antibody titers, primarily IgG rise sharply during VL, but the antibodies so generated, are apparently not protective (Bryceson and Turk 1971; Bray and Lainson 1966; Evans et al. 1990). The enormous increase in serum immunoglobulin levels in active VL is due to polyclonal activation of immunoglobulin producing cells leading to increase biosynthesis of IgG and to a lesser extent of IgM. Most of the antibodies produced during infection are not parasite specific (Clinton et al. 1969; Bunn-Moreno et al. 1985; Evans et al. 1990), but the hyper-gammaglobulinemia may have diagnostic value, IgG may reach 50 g/l and comprise 50 % of total serum proteins (Stauber 1963).