Genetic control of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Abstract

Differences in expression of cytokines involved with the Th1 and Th2 responses are associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the genes that encode them.. We have genotyped SNP in a panel of genes for cytokines that are known to be important in controlling the immune response. Samples were collected from the following groups: 1. Patients with chronic cutaneous leishmaniasis of more than four months. 2. Subjects with a positive Montenegro skin test but no history of disease. These individuals were expected to be resistant to the disease but not infection. 3. Individuals from the same endemic area with no history of disease and a negative skin test. This is expected to be a heterogeneous group who may or may not have been challenged Significant differences were found in allele frequencies in the TNF-beta and IL4 genes.