Induction of Th1 and Th2 CD4 super(+) subsets during murine Leishmania major) infection

Infection of inbred strains of mice with Leishmania major results in strain-specific reproduction of the spectrum of disease that occurs in humans with L. donovani infections; self-limited cure occurs in most strains, such as C57BL/6 and C3H/HeN, whereas the BALB/c mouse is unable to control infection and dies of progressive visceral disease that mimics human kala-azar. Infection in both resistant and susceptible strains of mice is associated with activation of CD4 super(+) T lymphocytes in vivo as assessed by expansion in number in the draining lymph nodes and the appearance of lymphokine mRNA in vivo.