The effect of Leishmania infantum lysate on proliferative features and angiogenesis of liver cancer cell line

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by a protozoan leishmaniasis parasite that spreads through sandfly bites. Leishmaniasis is an anthropo-zoonotic disease caused by various Leishmania species. The clinical manifestations of the disease vary according to the species and host characteristics. Leishmania infection leads to subversion/modulation of the host’s innate immune response and cellular metabolic pathways. In the last years, it has been shown that many host cell gene expression and signaling pathways are targeted by Leishmania to subvert host defenses (e.g., oxidative damage, immune activation, antigen presentation, apoptosis) and allow parasite survival and replication. Aim of the study is the effect of L. infantum lysate on the expression of angiogenesis in HepG2 cell line. Material and Methods: The cell line is cultured in RPMI1640 medium and after the cells reach logarithmic growth, two groups with/without L. infantum lysate treated will be considered. After 24 hours, the cells will be collected for mRNA extraction, and after cDNA synthesis. The expression of the genes examined by RT-PCR Results: QRT-PCR test changes in the expression of VEGF gene significantly decreased in 20 and 80 µg/ml of L. infantum (p<0.0001).