Therapeutic potential of rWnt5A in curbing Leishmania donovani infection

Abstract

In this study, we demonstrated that administration of recombinant Wnt5A (rWnt5A) to Leishmania donovani (L. donovani) infected RAW 264.7 macrophages cause a significant reduction of infection that is associated with an increase in both cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and secreted IFN-{gamma}/IL-10 ratio. Furthermore, rWnt5A administration appreciably blocks the progression of L. donovani infection established in a mouse model. This line of defense in vivo is associated with an elevation in immune cell associated ROS, and an activated T cell profile marked by increased IFN-{gamma} and Granzyme B expression. As a corollary, infection associated disruption of splenic white pulp organization is markedly restrained. In summary, this study unveils the therapeutic potential of rWnt5A in curbing L. donovani infection and the progression of experimental visceral leishmaniasis through immune cell signaling. Additionally, it opens up new avenues of investigation into the use of rWnt5A as a therapeutic agent for restraining progression of the drug resistant refractory disease.