Skin-derived macrophages from Leishmania major-susceptible mice exhibit interleukin-12- and interferon-gamma-independent nitric oxide production and parasite killing after treatment with immunostimulatory DNA.

Co-administration of CpG-containing immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotides and parasite antigen protects susceptible BALB/c mice from otherwise progressive infection with Leishmania major. Although the protective effect of CpG-containing immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotides is clearly dependent on endogenous interleukin-12 and interferon-gamma production, the source of these Th1-promoting cytokines in infected mice is unknown. In contrast to macrophages from Leishmania-resistant C57BL/6 mice, macrophages from susceptible BALB/c mice are hyporesponsive to stimulation with lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma. While studying interactions of various antigen-presenting cells with Leishma…