Natural killer (NK) cells and CD8+ T cells also play a role in effective clearance of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL).[33] While all three cell types are capable of secreting IFN-γ, it is IL-12 and IL-18 that direct the differentiation and proliferation of uncommitted Th cells toward the Th1 subset and stimulate the release of IFN-γ by Th1 and NK cells.[34, 35]. The gene discussed is IFNG; the disease is cutaneous leishmaniasis.