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Alterations in Host Lipid Metabolism Produced During Visceral Leishmaniasis Infections

  • Metabolism in Tropical Medicine (K Schlosser Montes, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Leishmania is an obligate intracellular parasite that depends on the host’s own lipid reservoirs to ensure its survival. The use of fats ranges from energy obtention to evasion of immune response, so this would alter the host’s lipid metabolism somehow. This article aims to review lipid metabolism of both parasite and host, and how the former affects the latter.

Recent Findings

Leishmania uses the host’s cholesterol to ensure macrophage phagocytosis and evade immune response. Additionally, the host’s lipid bodies have key roles in disease progression and development of the parasite inside the cell. This induces changes in the patient’s serum lipid profile like hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL levels.

Summary

Changes in the lipid profile and metabolism in both parasite and host during development of the disease depend on the presence of lipid bodies. Further research is required to fully understand the relationship between the interactions between lipid metabolism of host and parasite, immune response, and the prognosis of the disease (Fig. 1).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala

    Carlo R. Martínez

  2. Universidad Francisco Marroquín, Guatemala City, Guatemala

    Cristian J. Ruiz

Authors
  1. Carlo R. Martínez
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  2. Cristian J. Ruiz
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Correspondence to Carlo R. Martínez.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Metabolism in Tropical Medicine

Glossary of Key Terms

apoA1

Apolipoprotein A1

apoB

Apolipoprotein B

CL

Cutaneous leishmaniasis

ER

Endoplasmic reticulum

EV

Extracellular vesicles

GC-MS

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

GPI

Glycosylphosphatidyliositol

HDL

High density lipoprotein

HMG-CoA

β-Hydroxy β-methylglutaryl-CoA

LB

Lipid bodies

LD

Lipid droplets

LDL

Low density lipoprotein

Lp(a)

Lipoprotein a

MiRNAs

Micro ribonucleic acids

PC

Phosphatidylcholine

PE

Phosphatidylethanolamine

PI

Phosphatidylinositol

PV

Parasitophorous vacuoles

SL

Sphingolipids

TAGs

Triacylglyceros

TNF

Tumor necrosis factor

VL

Visceral leishmaniasis

VLDL

Very low density lipoprotein

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Martínez, C.R., Ruiz, C.J. Alterations in Host Lipid Metabolism Produced During Visceral Leishmaniasis Infections. Curr Trop Med Rep 6, 250–255 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40475-019-00187-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40475-019-00187-w

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