EVALUATION OF SERUM LEVELS OF SOLUBLE CD4, CD8 AND BETA(2)-MICROGLOBULIN IN VISCERAL HUMAN LEISHMANIASIS

The levels of soluble CD4 (sCD4), sCD8 and beta(2)-microglobulin (beta (2)-M) were measured in sera from patients with visceral leishmaniasis during the course of infection. Levels of sCD4, sCDs and beta(2)-M we re raised significantly above levels in normal sera and returned to th e normal range after recovery. The decrease in the levels of sCD8 was related to a reduction of anaemia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. In contrast, sCD4 levels fluctuated during the period of infection. beta (2)-M returned within normal range more rapidly than sCD8 secretion. O ur results suggest that T cells are activated during infection, and th at it is also possible that the raised levels of these soluble molecul es play a role in the impairment of protective immunity.