EVALUATION OF SOME CHEMOKINES LEVELS IN IRAQI PATIENTS INFECTED WITH VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS

Abstract

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), or kala-azar, is one of the deadliest and most disregarded of all tropical maladies. The presence of inflammatory mediators in serum could hypothetically control the disease. However, there is likewise liberation of anti-inflammatory mediators that could intervene with the control of parasite multiplication. The objective of the current work is to determine levels of some serum chemokines that incorporate granulocytes-macrophages colonies stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interferon-gamma inducible protein-10 (IP-10) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) of Iraqi patients with VL which can be considered as a biomarkers for VL infection. Sixty people were included in the present study; thirty- five of them were infected with VL while 25 uninfected people were considered as control. Patients were recognized on the premise of clinical and parasitological criteria. Sera (GM-CSF, IP-10 and VEGF) levels were determined by ELISA using a quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique. The results showed that there were no significant differences (0.05) between males and females infected with VL, while sera levels of GMCSF, IP-10, and VEGF were significantly higher in patients group than healthy subjects (P<0.01).