Cytokine gene polymorphisms in visceral leishmaniasis Iraqi patients

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a severe chronic systemic zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan Leishmania donovani or L. infantum in which cytokines play an important role in its pathogenesis. These cytokines are under genetic control and their gene polymorphisms have been suggested to exert a functional role in regulating cytokine gene expression. Therefore the present study determined IFN-γIL-2 IL-10 and IL-12 serum levels and gene polymorphisms of 11 cytokine and cytokine receptor genes (IL1A IL1B IL2 IL4 IL4R IL6 IL10 IL12B TNF IFNG and TGFB1) in VL patients by ELISA assay and sequence specific primer-PCR method. Gene polymorphism impact on IFN-γ IL-2 IL-10 and IL-12 serum levels was also evaluated. These evaluations were carried out on Iraqi Arab children with VL.