We evaluated the effects of a non-hepatotropic parasite infection (Taenia crassiceps) on the outcome of acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure in mice. Uninfected and T. crassiceps infected mice orally received either 300 mg/kg acetaminophen or water as vehicle (n = 5 per group). Survival analysis, hepatocyte necrosis, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, CYP2E1 protein, interleukin (IL-) 5, and IL-6 were assessed for all groups. All infected mice died within 16 h after exposure to acetaminophen (Tc+APAP group), whereas only one-third of uninfected animals exposed to acetaminophen (APAP group) died. Uninfected (Control group) and infected (Tc group) mice that received the vehicle showed no liver damage. Tc+APAP mice exhibited massive liver necrosis characterised by marked balloning degeneration of hepatocytes and higher serum ALT compared to Control, Tc, and APAP animals. Liver tissue from Tc+APAP mice also displayed increased expression of CYP2E1 protein and higher mRNA and protein levels of IL-5 and IL-6 compared to the other groups. These findings suggest that non-hepatotropic parasite infections may increase mortality following acute liver failure by promoting hepatocyte necrosis via IL-5 and IL-6-dependent CYP2E1 overproduction. This study identifies new potential risk factors associated with severe acute liver failure in patients.

OBJECTIVE: Review of the literature on the role of CD8+ T cell in the immune response against Leishmania species that cause cutaneous leishmaniasis. The role of macrophages, dendritic cells, CD4 T cells and NK cells has been extensively analyzed in leishmaniasis, yet very little knowledge has been gained on CD8+ T cells in this disease. Murine models of leishmaniasis suggest that CD8+ T cells participate through IFNg production, yet their cytotoxic capacity may also play a crucial role, as has been found in human disease. It is an enigma what mechanisms underlie the CD8+ T cell activation. It is possible that dendritic cells activate CD8+ T cells through mechanisms that include antigen traspresentation. A better understanding of CD8+ T cells in the immune response against Leishmania will undoubtedly provide new insights into the physiopathogenesis of the disease that could lead to new therapeutic approaches against leishmaniasis.

OBJETIVO: Examinar la bibliografía relacionada con la participación de los linfocitos T CD8+ en la reacción inmunitaria a especies de Leishmania causantes de leishmaniasis cutánea. En esta enfermedad se ha resaltado la intervención de macrófagos, células dendríticas, NK y células T CD4+; sin embargo, es poco lo que se conoce de las células T CD8+. Los trabajos en modelos murinos señalan que la participación de las células CD8+ sucede a través de la producción de IFN-gamma, aunque su capacidad citotóxica puede desempeñar una función importante, como lo demuestran los hallazgos en seres humanos. La forma como se activan las células citotóxicas CD8+ es un enigma. Es posible que las células dendríticas realicen esa labor a través de mecanismos que incluyen transpresentación de antígenos. Comprender la contribución de este subtipo celular en la respuesta inmunitaria a Leishmania aportará novedosos conocimientos sobre la fisiopatogenia de la leishmaniasis, lo cual hará posible desarrollar nuevos enfoques terapéuticos para esta parasitosis.

OBJECTIVE: Review of the literature on the role of CD8+ T cell in the immune response against Leishmania species that cause cutaneous leishmaniasis. The role of macrophages, dendritic cells, CD4 T cells and NK cells has been extensively analyzed in leishmaniasis, yet very little knowledge has been gained on CD8+ T cells in this disease. Murine models of leishmaniasis suggest that CD8+ T cells participate through IFNg production, yet their cytotoxic capacity may also play a crucial role, as has been found in human disease. It is an enigma what mechanisms underlie the CD8+ T cell activation. It is possible that dendritic cells activate CD8+ T cells through mechanisms that include antigen traspresentation. A better understanding of CD8+ T cells in the immune response against Leishmania will undoubtedly provide new insights into the physiopathogenesis of the disease that could lead to new therapeutic approaches against leishmaniasis.

OBJETIVO: Examinar la bibliografía relacionada con la participación de los linfocitos T CD8+ en la reacción inmunitaria a especies de Leishmania causantes de leishmaniasis cutánea. En esta enfermedad se ha resaltado la intervención de macrófagos, células dendríticas, NK y células T CD4+; sin embargo, es poco lo que se conoce de las células T CD8+. Los trabajos en modelos murinos señalan que la participación de las células CD8+ sucede a través de la producción de IFN-gamma, aunque su capacidad citotóxica puede desempeñar una función importante, como lo demuestran los hallazgos en seres humanos. La forma como se activan las células citotóxicas CD8+ es un enigma. Es posible que las células dendríticas realicen esa labor a través de mecanismos que incluyen transpresentación de antígenos. Comprender la contribución de este subtipo celular en la respuesta inmunitaria a Leishmania aportará novedosos conocimientos sobre la fisiopatogenia de la leishmaniasis, lo cual hará posible desarrollar nuevos enfoques terapéuticos para esta parasitosis.