The human immune response during cutaneous leishmaniasis: NO problem

During some helminth infections, increased expression of the low-affinity r eceptor for IgE (CD23/Fc epsilon RII) by macrophages and/or increased level s of plasma IgE have been seen, but their role in host protection or diseas e progression remains unclear. Recently, crosslinking of CD23 was shown to promote intracellular killing of Leishmania parasites in human macrophages, a phenomenon involving the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha and n itric oxide (NO). Based upon various in vitro and in vivo studies of human cutaneous leishmaniasis, Djavad Mossalayi, Michel Arock, Dominique Mazier, Philipe Vincendeau and Ioannis Vouldoukis here propose a model for an immun e response that involves CD23-IgE-mediated ted NO release during protection , as well as du ring active cutaneous leishmaniasis.