Previous studies have demonstrated that protection against
New World leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania amazonensis can be elicited by immunization with the developmentally regulated Leishmania amastigote
antigen, P-8. In this study, several independent experimental approaches were employed to investigate the protective immunological mechanisms involved. T-cell subset depletion experiments clearly indicate that elicitation of CD8(+) (as well as CD4(+)) effector responses is required for protection. Further, mice lacking beta(2)-microglobulin (and hence deficient in major histocompatibility complex
class I antigen presentation) were not able to control a challenge
infection after vaccination, indicating an essential protective role for CD8(+) T effector responses. Analysis of the events ongoing at the cutaneous site of
infection indicated a changing cellular dynamic involved in protection. Early postinfection in protectively vaccinated mice, a predominance of CD8(+) T cells, secreting
gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and expressing
perforin, was observed at the site of
infection; subsequently, activated CD4(+) T cells producing IFN-gamma were primarily found. As protection correlated with the ratio of total IFN-gamma-producing cells (CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells) to macrophages found at the site of
infection, a role for IFN-gamma was evident; in addition, vaccination of IFN-gamma-deficient mice failed to provide protection. To further assess the effector mechanisms that mediate protection, mice deficient in
perforin synthesis were examined.
Perforin-deficient mice vaccinated with the P-8
antigen were unable to control infection. Thus, the elicitation of CD8(+) T cell effector mechanisms (
perforin, IFN-gamma) are clearly required in the protective immune response against L. amazonensis
infection in vaccinated mice.