AUTHOR=Jafarzadeh Abdollah , Nemati Maryam , Chauhan Prashant , Patidar Ashok , Sarkar Arup , Sharifi Iraj , Saha Bhaskar 

TITLE=Interleukin-27 Functional Duality Balances Leishmania Infectivity and Pathogenesis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2020

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2020.01573

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2020.01573

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=IL-27 is a unique cytokine that exerts diverse effects on the cells of innate and adaptive immune systems. IL-27 is chiefly expressed in macrophages and dendritic cells during the early phase of Leishmania infection. IL-27 contributes to the protection against L. major infection. However, it suppresses the protective Th1 response against L. donovani, L. infantum, L. amazonensis, and L. braziliensis infection, suggesting a functional duality in the cytokine. During the late stage of Leishmania infection, IL-27 limits the immunopathogenic reactions and tissue damages. Herein, we analyze the mechanism of the functional duality of IL-27 in the resistance or susceptibility to Leishmania infection, prompting IL-27 for anti-leishmanial therapy.