expression of pro-inflammatory genes in lesions and neutrophils during leishmania major infection in balb/c mice

background: leishmaniasis is a worldwide disease prevalent in tropical and sub- tropical countries in the world. characterization of inflammatory responses produced in cutaneous leishmaniasis has not yet been completed. methods: the specific primers were designed for ten pro-inflammatory genes including ccl4, ccl3, tnf-α, il-1α, il-12p35, il-12p40, ccl5, ccr5, il-1β and ifn- γ and their expression were assessed and compared using rt-pcr in the lesion and peripheral blood neutrophils in leishmania infected balb/c mice. results: none of the pro-inflammatory genes was expressed in the healthy tissue and except ifn-γ others were down-regulated by the parasite in the lesion in untreated mice. in mice treated with anti-leishmanial drugs, the expression of the pro - inflammatory genes restarted. the figure of pro-inflammatory gene expression in neutrophils was different was from the lesions in treated and untreated mice. conclusion: leishmania is capable to suppress the expression of pro-inflammatory genes in the lesions but not in neutrophils. the expression of tnf-α in the lesions and down-regulation of il-1β in neutrophils could be accounted as an indication for healing of cutaneous leishmaniasis . the results open a new window on characterization of leishmania lesions and clarifying the role of neutrophils in leishmania infections.