Osteopontin in the host response to Leishmania amazonensis

Emilie Giraud (1) , Eline Rouault (1) , Laurence Fiette (2) , Jean-Hervé Colle (3) , Despoina Smirlis (4) , Evie Melanitou (1)

1 Département Parasites et Insectes vecteurs - Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors
2 Histopathologie humaine et Modèles animaux
3 Résonance Magnétique Nucléaire des Biomolécules
4 Institut Pasteur Hellénique

Background: Leishmania (L.) spp are intracellular eukaryotic parasites responsible for cutaneous or visceral leishmaniasis, replicating predominantly in macrophages (MF). In C57BL/6 mice virulence with L. amazonensis has been associated with inhibition of Th1 immune responses and an uncontrolled lesion development, whereas DBA/2 mice control any lesion. Parasitic clearance by the MFs requires the activation of proper immune responses. One of the immune related genes expressed in immune cells including MF, codes for osteopontin (OPN). OPN is a secreted glycoprotein, acting as an immune regulator. Its implication in promoting Th1 immunity in response to infectious microorganisms and its known protective effect against viral and bacterial infections via activation of the immune response, render OPN a molecule of interest in the study of the host response to L. amazonensis.

Domains: Animal genetics; Human genetics; Endocrinology and metabolism; Infectious diseases; Subcellular Processes [q-bio.SC]

Emilie Giraud, Eline Rouault, Laurence Fiette, Jean-Hervé Colle, Despoina Smirlis, et al.. Osteopontin in the host response to Leishmania amazonensis. BMC Microbiology, 2019, 19 (1), ⟨10.1186/s12866-019-1404-z⟩. ⟨pasteur-02012576⟩