MIF G-173C polymorphism and susceptibility to cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iraq

Human leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease transmitted by sand flies, its characteristic by a spectrum of cutaneous, mucocutaneous and visceral diseases that depend largely on the species of the parasite involved and host immune response.1,2 Cutaneous leishmaniasis is the most common form of leishmaniasis, about (1-1.5) million of cases every year, and about (50 to 70%) of all cases in the world.2,3 Cutaneous leishmaniasis occurs each year more than 90% of cases occur in five countries in the old word (Afghanistan, Algeria, Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia) and two countries in the new world including Brazil and Peru.4 Leishmania major and Leishmania tropica considered as common causes of Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iraq.5 Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is considered to be one of the first cytokines to be discovered, its consider an essential component of the immune response of host against microbial and induce activation and secretion of interleukins like TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL -1β, IL-12, IL-6 and IL-8 by immune cells.6 MIF increase survival of macrophage by inhibition activity of P53 and thus decrease activation-induced apoptosis.7,8 Finally, cDNA was cloned in 1989 in human, MIF genomic localization to chromosome 22q11 later mapped, the human MIF gene has three exons of 205, 173 and 183 bp, these are separated by two introns of 189 and 95 bp.6,9 Previous study refer to that MIF plays an essential role in resistance of host to Cutaneous leishmaniasis, were found human MIF activate infected macrophage to kill L. major at a concentration (1.5 -2.5μg/ ml) in vitro.10 Jesus et al in Brazil found that associated between MIF-173 C polymorphism and cutaneous leishmaniasis.11 Jesus suggest that the MIF-173C allele induce lower levels of MIF cytokine in serum, and this lower synthesis of MIF might behave correlation with susceptibility to leishmaniasis. The present study aims to investigate of MIF-173 C polymorphism with susceptibility to CL infection in Iraqi population in AL-Muthanna province. Material and methods