[The use of leukinferon in treating zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis. 1. Research on an experimental model in mice].

Leukinferon, a drug made in this country, represents a complex of cytokines of the immune response first phase with the predominating activities of interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor, macrophage- and leukocyte-inhibiting factors and alpha-interferon; its effects on the murine immune system and on peritoneal macrophagal culture are diverse. Leukinferon activates phagocytosis and killing of L. major promastigotes with peritoneal macrophages. In vivo leukinferon in combination with monomycin had a marked effect on L. major infection in CBA mice, particularly at the tubercle stage. The cure is attained sooner than with monomycin therapy alone. Combined therapy of the ulcers was found less effective in BALB/c mice highly sensitive to the infection. In Swiss mice infected with L. major a prolongation of the incubation period and a more benign course of the infection were observed after a course of leukinferon injections.