The Prominent Role of Neutrophils during the Initial Phase of Infection by Leishmania Parasites

Figure 2

Early neutrophil recruitment to the site of L. major infection and its potential influence on the development L. major specific-immune response. (1) L. major parasites are transmitted by the bite of the sand fly. (2) This induces rapid and massive recruitment of neutrophils to the site of parasite inoculation, a process not defined, that may involve different host and/or parasite-derived factors such as IL-8, KC(Gro-𝛼), MIP-2 (Gro-𝛽), IL-17, TNF, and LCF. (3) L. major parasites induce chemokine and cytokine secretion by neutrophils that attract and/or activate inflammatory cells at the site of infection. Crosstalk between neutrophils and the different cell types present or recruited to the site of infection, as well as interaction between these cells, will contribute to determine the type and magnitude of the L. major specific immune response that will develop.