Inhibitory Effects of Leishmania Mexicana Infection on MHC-I Expression in Bone Marrow Derived Dendritic Cells

BACKGROUND: Leishmania is a parasite causing leishmaniasis with different clinical manifestations depending on the infectious species in many countries worldwide. Although different studies have been taken place to clear the interaction of the parasite with the immune system, many aspects of immunology of leishmaniasis is remained uncertain. METHODS: Bone marrow derived dendritic cells (DCs) were cultured in vitro and divided into different groups (Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK). The groups were separately infected with live or autoclaved L. mexicana or loaded with Soluble Leishmania Antigen (SLA). The expression of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) molecule was checked and compared on the cultured DCs using flow cytometry. RESULTS: Infection of L. mexicana caused a significant downregulation in expression of molecules where killed Leishmania or SLA could not induce suppression in expression of these molecules. CONCLUSION: L. mexicana infection results in downregulation of MHC-I expression on bone marrow-derived dendritic cells.