Homa Hatefi Minaei, Ali Khamesipour, Alireza Firooz, Akram Miraminmohammadi, Seyedebrahim Eskandari, Shahla Mirazizi, Minoo Tasbihi,
Volume 15, Issue 4 (2-2025)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Leishmaniasis is difficult to control and is not cost-effective in endemic areas. Antimony toxic compounds is the drug of choice, which drug resistance is increasing. Animal studies showed that interferon-gamma deficiency impairs the recovery of leishmaniasis. In this study, the therapeutic effects of subcutaneous injection of recombinant gamma interferon on leishmaniasis lesions in Balb/ C mice were evaluated.
Methods: 40 Balb/ C mice were infected with Leishmania major. After developing lesions, the therapeutic effects of interferon gamma alone or in combination with glucantime were investigated. Also, the standard treatment of glucantime and the control group without treatment were evaluated for comparison.
Results: The treatment groups (glucantime, gamma interferon, and gamma interferon-glucantime) had a significant difference (P<0.01) in terms of reduction in the footpad thickness compared to the control group. There was no significant difference in the mortality rate in the groups receiving gamma interferon and the group receiving standard glucantime treatment.
Conclusion: It seems that gamma interferon was effective in treating cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions in Balb/c mice alone and in combination with standard treatment and can be considered as an alternative treatment.
