Background: Leishmaniasis is a worldwide disease prevalent in tropical and sub-tropical countries in the world. Characterization of inflammatory responses produced in cutaneous Leishmaniasis has not yet been completed. The current study aims to assess and compare pro-inflammatory cytokines between burning injuries and Leishmania infection. Methods: the specific primers were designed for 10 proinflammatory genes including CCL4, CCL3, TNF- , IL-1 , IL-12P35, IL-12P40, CCL5, CCR5, IL-1 , and IFN- . Their expressions were assessed and compared using RT-PCR in the lesions caused by either Leishmania or burning in BALB/c mice. Results: None of the proinflammatory genes were expressed in the healthy tissue and in the lesions caused by Leishmania, except IFN- . The other genes were down-regulated by the parasite in untreated mice. In mice treated with Glucantime, the expression of the proinflammatory genes restarted. In contrast, the figure of expression of proinflammatory genes in lesions caused by burning was different. The proinflammatory genes were expressed in untreated lesions and down regulated in cured lesions. Conclusions: The findings of the current study indicated a role for Leishmania in suppression of proinflammatory genes and a role of proinflammatory genes in healing of burning lesions.
