Functional and phenotypic analysis of CD4 T cell dynamics in peripheral blood of human visceral leishmaniasis patients confers increased frequencies of CD25 expressing regulatory T cells that contribute to disease pathogenesis.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been reported to control immune responses in microbial infections. However, their possible role in visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has not been well defined. To address this, we carried out extensive studies to investigate the frequency, phenotype and functions of kala-azar patients' peripheral blood Tregs pre and post treatment.

Methods

Fresh blood and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were used to delineate the frequency and phenotype in VL through flow cytometry. Further for functional characterization, PBMCs of VL patients were depleted of CD25⁺ T cells and sorted Treg and T effector cells were co-cultured.

Results

Tregs frequencies were significantly upregulated in the active VL patients compared to hea

SUBMITTER: Kamran M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12695756 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature