Angel Fernandez-Flores1, José Luis Rodriguez-Peralto2. 1. Department of Cellular Pathology, Hospital El Bierzo, Ponferrada, Spain. Electronic address: dermatopathonline@gmail.com. 2. Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Universidad Complutense, I+12, Madrid, Spain.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: CD1a immunoexpression by amastigotes of Leishmania major and L tropica has been demonstrated. OBJECTIVE: We studied the CD1a and the langerin status of amastigotes in cases of L infantum. METHODS: We investigated 19 cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis. All cases were immunostained with CD1a, langerin, and CD68. We also studied 4 cases of visceral leishmaniasis. RESULTS: We found expression of CD1a by amastigotes in all of these 19 cases. CD1a(-) amastigotes are found in reticular areas of the dermis. The pattern of CD1a immunostaining of amastigotes is characteristic, with peripheral positivity, a negative nucleus in the center, and reinforcement of the kinetoplast in 1 pole. Leishmania amastigotes were langerin-negative. Visceral Leishmania amastigotes also express CD1a. LIMITATIONS: Our study was limited because it only included cases of infection by L infantum. CONCLUSIONS: (1) L infantum is CD1a(+), (2) the pattern of CD1a immunostaining of amastigotes is peculiar, (3) CD1a(-) amastigotes are found in reticular areas of the dermis, and (4) visceral Leishmania amastigotes also express CD1a.
BACKGROUND: CD1a immunoexpression by amastigotes of Leishmania major and L tropica has been demonstrated. OBJECTIVE: We studied the CD1a and the langerin status of amastigotes in cases of L infantum. METHODS: We investigated 19 cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis. All cases were immunostained with CD1a, langerin, and CD68. We also studied 4 cases of visceral leishmaniasis. RESULTS: We found expression of CD1a by amastigotes in all of these 19 cases. CD1a(-) amastigotes are found in reticular areas of the dermis. The pattern of CD1a immunostaining of amastigotes is characteristic, with peripheral positivity, a negative nucleus in the center, and reinforcement of the kinetoplast in 1 pole. Leishmania amastigotes were langerin-negative. Visceral Leishmania amastigotes also express CD1a. LIMITATIONS: Our study was limited because it only included cases of infection by L infantum. CONCLUSIONS: (1) L infantum is CD1a(+), (2) the pattern of CD1a immunostaining of amastigotes is peculiar, (3) CD1a(-) amastigotes are found in reticular areas of the dermis, and (4) visceral Leishmania amastigotes also express CD1a.