As PKR is a signal transduction protein, the inference that increased production of inflammatory mediators dependent on this kinase is plausible; for example, some cytokines (IL-10 and IL-27) and antioxidative enzymes (SOD1 and HO-1) favor the establishment of infection and provide an intracellular milieu for the progression of leishmaniasis. The gene discussed is SOD1; the disease is leishmaniasis.