Expansion of γδ T Cells in Patients Infected With Cutaneous Leishmaniasis With and Without Glucantime Therapy

The expansion of γδ T cells in patients with active cutaneous leishmaniasis, with or without glucantime therapy, was investigated. Twenty patients with local cutaneous leishmaniasis including glucantime-treated (n=10) and untreated (n=10) patients were selected. The controls were healthy individuals (n=10) living in endemic areas. Whole blood was obtained and the T cell subpopulations were analyzed by flow cytometry. Significantly more γδ CD3 + T cells were observed in untreated patients (15.9% ± 5.9), when compared with glucantime-treated patients (4.6% ± 1.4) and controls (5.3% ± 2.3). On the other hand, when the percentages of αβ CD3 + T-cells were analyzed different results were obtained. A significant increase in αβ T cells was seen in glucantime-treated patients (62.4% ± 7.6), when compared to the untreated patients (55.7% ± 5.5) and controls (55.1% ± 9.6). The percentage of total CD3 + T cells was statistically greater in both glucantimetreated (68.8% ± 7.4) and untreated patients (73.4% ± 5.9) when compared to the controls (61% ± 10.3). These results are consistent with previous results on the expansion of γδ T cells during the course of cutaneous leishmaniasis. They also indicate that glucantime therapy can reverse the expansion of γδ T cells and as a result increase the percentages of αβ CD3 + T cells.