Cytokine and phenotypic cell profiles in human cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania donovani.

The overall immunophenotypic profile suggests that LCL observed in the country is the result of a balancing immune response between pro-inflammatory and regulatory mediators. The mediators which showed distinct profiles in patients warrant further investigation as potential candidates for immunotherapeutic approaches. A comparison with visceral leishmaniasis caused by the same species, would provide further evidence on the differential role of these mediators in the resulting clinical phenotype.