Ultrastructural and immunological features of experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis after treatment with intralesional hypertonic sodium chloride and CO2 laser rays

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the mechanism of action and efficacy of CO2 laser rays and hypertonic sodium chloride [NaCl] with different concentrations in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis [CL] as assessed clinically, parasitologically, histopathologically by light and transmission electron microscopy [TEM] and immunologically by RT- PCR for gene expression of interleukin-13 [IL-13]. Eighty mice were divided into four groups The first was non-infected control group [n=16], the second was infected and served as non-treated control [n=16] as well as the third [n=32] and fourth groups [n=16] were subjected to NaCl injection and CO2 laser, respectively. The results showed that the clinical healing by CO2 laser was nearly similar to the normal appearance, but differed according to the concentration of NaCl as confirmed by the ultrastructure and immunohistopathologic features of the host cells and surrounding skin tissue. IL-13 mRNA was significantly decreased after treatment denoting that Th2 cytokine [IL-13] is important for the development of strategies to prevent the induction of the pathologic processes. It was concluded that CO2 laser and 7% NaCl are good modalities for CL treatment and were recommended, wherever possible