(L.) amazonensis infection at 4th (528·49 cell/mm2) and 8th weeks PI (586·82 cell/mm2), and the control group (402·99 FK228 manufacturer cell/mm2) (Figure 3). At 4th weeks PI, the Th2 cytokines production under specific antigenic stimulation showed that IL-4 levels in the L. (L.) amazonensis infection (139·61 pg/mL) were higher (P < 0·05) than those in the L. (V.) braziliensis infection (15·68 pg/mL), as well as at 8th

weeks PI when IL-4 was detected in the L. (L.) amazonensis group (14·45 pg/mL) and absence in mice infected with L. (V.) braziliensis (Figure 4a). In a similar way, the IL-10 levels were also higher (P < 0·05) in the L. (L.) amazonensis infection than in the L. (V.) braziliensis infection either at 4th (374·64 and 17·62 pg/mL) or at 8th (26·03 pg/mL and not detected) weeks PI (P < 0·05), respectively (Figure 4b). Concerning the production of Th1 cytokines, the IFN-γ levels were higher (P < 0·05) in the L. (V.) braziliensis infection than in the L. (L.) amazonensis infection either at 4th (174·41 pg/mL and 50·83 pg/mL) or at 8th (454·13 pg/mL and 30·16 pg/mL) weeks PI, respectively (Figure 4c). Production of the Th1/Th2 cytokines under nonspecific antigen stimuli (Concanavalin

A) showed similar profiles in both groups (Figure 4a–c). Concerning the control group, a SCH727965 supplier nondetectable amount of cytokines was observed in the supernatant of lymph node cell cultures under either specific antigen or nonspecific

stimuli, according to the standard curve. The interaction process between Leishmania Vildagliptin parasites and DCs is complex and involves paradoxical functions, which can inhibit or stimulate T-cell response, leading to either progression or control of infection (18). It is assumed that not only the degree of DCs maturation but also specific subtypes and the compartmentalization of the antigen presentation are of critical interest to the quality of T-cell response (19). In the early phase of the Leishmania infection, besides macrophage, three types of DCs, in particular dDC, LC and inflammatory dendritic cells (iDC), can perform the function of antigen-presenting cells; however, it was demonstrated in murine cutaneous leishmaniasis that both dDC and iDC, but not resident LC in the epidermis, are responsible for the transportation of Leishmania antigens to the draining lymph nodes and stimulate the efficient Th1 immune response (9). Together with the above comments, it was demonstrated in the present work that Leishmania species can also be a crucial factor in priming DCs (dDC and LC) function for preferentially modulating an efficient Th1 or a defective Th2 immune responses. First, at 4th weeks PI, an increase in the cellular densities of both DCs populations in the skin of BALB/c mice infected with L. (L.) amazonensis (P < 0·05) in relation to those infected with L. (V.