Nerve growth factor promotes killing of Leishmania donovani by macrophages through the induction of hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract

Visceral leishmaniasis is protozoonosis that occurs worldwide and still requires effective therapies with less toxicity. In this study, we examined the antileishmanial effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) using a murine infection model. NGF blocked the infection of macrophages by Leishmania donovani, which was completely cancelled by a hydrogen peroxide inhibitor. In vivo, not only did NGF show antileishmanial effects, but combination therapy of NGF and sodium stibogluconate synergistically exhibited the activity more potently than each monotherapy. These results indicate that NGF exerts antileishmanial effect by stimulating hydrogen peroxide production in macrophages and can be a novel therapy for leishmaniasis.

• Authors: Rieko Chiba, Yosuke Amagai, Akane Tanaka, Ken Katakura, Hiroshi Matsuda
• Journal: Microbes and infection (Microbes Infect) Vol. 16 Issue 8 Pg. 702-6 (Aug 2014) ISSN: 1769-714X [Electronic] France
• PMID: 24937592 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 Institut Pasteur. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antiprotozoal Agents
• Nerve Growth Factor
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Antimony Sodium Gluconate

Topics

• Animals
• Antimony Sodium Gluconate (therapeutic use)
• Antiprotozoal Agents (therapeutic use)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Drug Synergism
• Female
• Hydrogen Peroxide (metabolism)
• Leishmania donovani (immunology)
• Leishmaniasis, Visceral (immunology)
• Macrophages (immunology, parasitology)
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Nerve Growth Factor (immunology, metabolism, therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome