Involvement of insulin-like growth factor-I in the pathogenesis of pancytopenia in visceral leishmaniasis in hamsters

Abstract

AbstractPancytopenia is an important clinicopathological manifestation in visceral leishmaniasis (VL) with an overall decrease of the particulate blood elements. The genesis of hematological alterations comprising red or white series is often related to marrow dysfunction, since bone marrow is the main hematopoietic organ. Concerning the bone marrow dysfunction related to infection by Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi, there are few studies that describe changes in myelopoiesis and mechanisms that lead to pancytopenia in LV. Some studies show an important relationship between pancytopenia and the insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) in hematopoietic cells, although its endogenous role in hematopoiesis is unclear. In this study we propose to evaluate the the influence of IGF-I on hematopoiesis and its correlation with the development of pancytopenia in hamsters infected by Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi.