Real-time reverse transcription-PCR quantification of cytokine mRNA expression in golden Syrian hamster infected with Leishmania infantum and treated with a new amphotericin B formulation.

ABSTRACT: A real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR assay was developed for the quantification of cytokine mRNA expression in the golden Syrian hamster Mesocricetus auratus infected with Leishmania infantum and treated with amphotericin B (AMB) formulated in microspheres made of human serum albumin (HSA). Treatment was administered intravenously on days 69, 71, and 73 postinfection (p.i.) with 10(7) metacyclic promastigotes, at doses of 2 and 40 mg/kg of AMB. High infection levels were recorded for untreated animals by day 76 p.i., with parasite loads always about 2 log10 per gram higher in the liver than in the spleen. Treatment was highly effective with both doses, but at 40 mg/kg, almost complete parasite elimination was achieved. mRNA expression of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and, to a

SUBMITTER: Rama Iniguez S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1426985 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature