RESUMO
Despite demonstration of molecular and biochemical changes induced by heat shock on Leishmania, the immunological importance of such changes has not been elucidated. Studying the effect of two excretory factors prepared under heat shock and ambient temperature from Leishmania major on Balb/c splenocytes function. The parasites were cultured at 25°C and then subjected to heat shock by overnight incubating at 35 C. Both 25 C [R25] and 35 C [R35] supernatants were collected and used for biochemical analysis and as culture media for T cell activation. The protein profile of two supernatants was studied by SDS-PAGE. Splenocytes of Balb/c mice were stimulated by concavalin-A in the presence of RPMI, R25 and R35. Consequently, CD25 expression was studied by means of flow cytometry and the production of IFN-