Leishmaniasis is a serious global challenge with neither efficacious prophylactic vaccine nor effective and safe therapeutic measures. Cathelicidins, members of antimicrobial peptides family, are small proteins of innate immunity system, which represent a protective barrier against a number of potential pathogens in living organisms. The murine cathelicidin or cathelin-related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP) is expressed by a variety of cells or tissues, and highly resembles to human cathelicidin (LL-37). It is naturally expressed at a low concentration in adolescent age, but extensively increases during cutaneous infections. Despite its important role, it has less been investigated in parasitic infections. Among all cells, macrophages and skin cells are the two important cells that directly have a relationship withparasites. The present study aimed to show whether cathelicidins protect their hosts following cutaneous leishmaniasis due toparasites. Bothandmodels ofinfection were established by exposing of J744 cell line (murine macrophages) and BALB/c mice with the stationary phase ofpromastigotes for 24 h and 7 days. The findings revealed that both macrophages and skin cells significantly (< 0.05) expressed a high level of CRAMP gene and peptide after challenging withparasites. Thus, our data suggest a protective role for cathelicidins against infections caused byparasites. This experimental model could be considered as a novel potential vaccine candidate for planning future control strategy against human leishmaniasis.
Authors
Asadi, Arash; Tavakoli Kareshk, Amir; Sharifi, Iraj; Firouzeh, Nima