Quantitative evaluation of the mast cell population in border of ulcers in America Cutaneous Leishmaniasis - ACL

Abstract

American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ACL) is an infect ious disease with a broad spectrum of presentation, has two clinical poles, one anergic a nd other hyperergic. The inflammatory response to the etiologic agent is complex and involves several cell lines, especially lymphocytes, plasma cells, histiocytes, and antigen-presenting cells. Other ce lls are observed in inflammatory exudate in a lesse r degree, such as eosinophil and mast cells – MC. Sev eral studies have sought to investigate the role of mast cells in cutaneous Leishmaniasis. This study e valuated 64 skin biopsies of leishmanial ulcer edge . The number of mast cells and leishmania were observ ed in the timeline. It was found that the number of mast cells and leishmania decline with age of the l esion, there is a negative correlation p<0.05. In t he late stages of injury (more than eight weeks) the n umber of mast cell sin the leishmanial lesion sis almost nil. The authors question whether there is r eally involvement of the mast cells in the chronic phase of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis.