Serum profile of IL-1β and IL-17 cytokines in patients with visceral leishmaniasis

Leishmania is an intracellular protozoan parasite, mainly infects macrophages of mammalian tissues. Inflammatory related cytokines have a crucial role in the pathogenesis of leishmaniasis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate serum concentrations of IL-1 beta and IL-17 in patients with active visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and control group. Serum concentrations of both IL-1 beta and IL-17 cytokines were assessed by ELISA in Leishmania infantum infected patients (n = 25) and healthy individuals (n = 25) from Meshkin-Shahr, northwest of Iran. Mean serum concentrations of IL-1 beta in the patients and control groups were 47.34 +/- 23.82, and 20.49 +/- 9.38, respectively, which was statistically significant (p<0.001). Furthermore, mean IL-17 concentration in patients with VL (243.96 +/- 73.46) was twice higher comparing to control group (106.38 +/- 129.06) (p<0.001). Several cytokines are involved in the regulation of immunity against VL. The present data has shown that, increased serum concentrations of IL-1 beta and IL-17 are present in the patients with VL. Further investigations are needed to enhance our knowledge about the regulatory role of these cytokines in leishmaniasis.