Association of Post Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis pathogenesis with prolonged sunlight (ultraviolet radiations) exposure in VL endemic population of Bihar
Abstract Post Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a complication of Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) and acts as a reservoir for Leishmania parasites. With climatic changes and ozone depletion increasing ultraviolet radiation (UVR), we investigated the connection between UVR and PKDL development. We...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| author | Sachidananda Behera Mehar Darukhshan Kalim Naveen Kumar Vidya Nand Ravi Das Niyamat Ali Siddiqui Krishna Pandey Shubhankar Kumar Singh Vahab Ali |
| author_facet | Sachidananda Behera Mehar Darukhshan Kalim Naveen Kumar Vidya Nand Ravi Das Niyamat Ali Siddiqui Krishna Pandey Shubhankar Kumar Singh Vahab Ali |
| author_sort | Sachidananda Behera |
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| description | Abstract Post Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a complication of Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) and acts as a reservoir for Leishmania parasites. With climatic changes and ozone depletion increasing ultraviolet radiation (UVR), we investigated the connection between UVR and PKDL development. We have measured sun-light UVR intensities by UV light meters and satellite-based methods. Our data showed a concerning increase in the UV index (> 12.0–14.5) during summer and pre-monsoon season. A cohort of 283 PKDL patients revealed a strong correlation between prolonged sun-light (UVR) exposure (4–8 h/day) and worsening skin lesions, with many patients, particularly labourers and farm workers, reporting sunburn and/or irritation, skin sensitivity. Additionally, in vitro studies with human THP-1 cells showed UVB-induced cytotoxicity and immuno-suppression, that likely to be associated with PKDL development. Serum analysis showed significant alterations in key cytokines concentrations (IL-10, IL-12), IFN-γR and Vitamin-D, iron level among PKDL and VL patients versus healthy controls. Specifically, PKDL patients exhibited upregulated expressions of TLRs-2/4 and TNFR-2, but down-regulation of TNFR-1 were observed in PKDL patients than the healthy controls. In essence, our findings implicate the risk posed by increasing sunlight UVR exposure for PKDL development in vulnerable populations from VL endemic regions of Bihar. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-efb02477046b42d38cf7d38af29a398e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-efb02477046b42d38cf7d38af29a398e2025-08-20T04:02:56ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115112610.1038/s41598-025-08738-0Association of Post Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis pathogenesis with prolonged sunlight (ultraviolet radiations) exposure in VL endemic population of BiharSachidananda Behera0Mehar Darukhshan Kalim1Naveen Kumar2Vidya Nand Ravi Das3Niyamat Ali Siddiqui4Krishna Pandey5Shubhankar Kumar Singh6Vahab Ali7Laboratory of Molecular Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Biochemistry, ICMR-Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (RMRIMS)Laboratory of Molecular Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Biochemistry, ICMR-Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (RMRIMS)Laboratory of Molecular Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Biochemistry, ICMR-Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (RMRIMS)Clinical Medicine Division, ICMR-Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (RMRIMS)Bio-Statistics Division, ICMR-Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (RMRIMS)Clinical Medicine Division, ICMR-Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (RMRIMS)Microbiology Division, ICMR-Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (RMRIMS)Laboratory of Molecular Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Biochemistry, ICMR-Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (RMRIMS)Abstract Post Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a complication of Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) and acts as a reservoir for Leishmania parasites. With climatic changes and ozone depletion increasing ultraviolet radiation (UVR), we investigated the connection between UVR and PKDL development. We have measured sun-light UVR intensities by UV light meters and satellite-based methods. Our data showed a concerning increase in the UV index (> 12.0–14.5) during summer and pre-monsoon season. A cohort of 283 PKDL patients revealed a strong correlation between prolonged sun-light (UVR) exposure (4–8 h/day) and worsening skin lesions, with many patients, particularly labourers and farm workers, reporting sunburn and/or irritation, skin sensitivity. Additionally, in vitro studies with human THP-1 cells showed UVB-induced cytotoxicity and immuno-suppression, that likely to be associated with PKDL development. Serum analysis showed significant alterations in key cytokines concentrations (IL-10, IL-12), IFN-γR and Vitamin-D, iron level among PKDL and VL patients versus healthy controls. Specifically, PKDL patients exhibited upregulated expressions of TLRs-2/4 and TNFR-2, but down-regulation of TNFR-1 were observed in PKDL patients than the healthy controls. In essence, our findings implicate the risk posed by increasing sunlight UVR exposure for PKDL development in vulnerable populations from VL endemic regions of Bihar.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-08738-0Intense sun lightUV radiationClimate changePKDL pathogenesisLabourers and farm workers |
| spellingShingle | Sachidananda Behera Mehar Darukhshan Kalim Naveen Kumar Vidya Nand Ravi Das Niyamat Ali Siddiqui Krishna Pandey Shubhankar Kumar Singh Vahab Ali Association of Post Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis pathogenesis with prolonged sunlight (ultraviolet radiations) exposure in VL endemic population of Bihar Scientific Reports Intense sun light UV radiation Climate change PKDL pathogenesis Labourers and farm workers |
| title | Association of Post Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis pathogenesis with prolonged sunlight (ultraviolet radiations) exposure in VL endemic population of Bihar |
| title_full | Association of Post Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis pathogenesis with prolonged sunlight (ultraviolet radiations) exposure in VL endemic population of Bihar |
| title_fullStr | Association of Post Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis pathogenesis with prolonged sunlight (ultraviolet radiations) exposure in VL endemic population of Bihar |
| title_full_unstemmed | Association of Post Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis pathogenesis with prolonged sunlight (ultraviolet radiations) exposure in VL endemic population of Bihar |
| title_short | Association of Post Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis pathogenesis with prolonged sunlight (ultraviolet radiations) exposure in VL endemic population of Bihar |
| title_sort | association of post kala azar dermal leishmaniasis pathogenesis with prolonged sunlight ultraviolet radiations exposure in vl endemic population of bihar |
| topic | Intense sun light UV radiation Climate change PKDL pathogenesis Labourers and farm workers |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-08738-0 |
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