Leishmania amazonensis fails to induce the release of reactive oxygen intermediates by CBA macrophages

CBA mouse macrophages effectively control Leishmania major infection, yet are permissive to Leishmania amazonensis. It has been established that some Leishmania species are destroyed by reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, other species of Leishmania exhibit resistance to ROS or even down-modulate ROS production. We hypothesized that L. amazonensis–infected macrophages reduce ROS production soon after parasite–cell interaction. Employing a highly sensitive analysis technique based on chemiluminescence, the production of superoxide ([Image: see text]) and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) by L. major- or L. amazonensis-infected CBA macrophages were measured. L. major induces macrophages to release levels of [Image: see text] 3·5 times higher than in uninfected cells. This [Image: see text] production is partially dependent on NADPH oxidase (NOX) type 2. The level of accumulated H(2)O(2) is 20 times higher in L. major-than in L. amazonensis-infected cells. Furthermore, macrophages stimulated with L. amazonensis release amounts of ROS similar to uninfected cells. These findings support previous studies showing that CBA macrophages are effective in controlling L. major infection by a mechanism dependent on both [Image: see text] production and H(2)O(2) generation. Furthermore, these data reinforce the notion that L. amazonensis survive inside CBA macrophages by reducing ROS production during the phagocytic process.