The effect of chloroquine on the production of interferon-gamma, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, and IL-10 in Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi in infected C57BL6 mice.
The effect of chloroquine (CQ) on the production pattern of interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, and IL-10 in female C57BL6 mice infected with Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi AS was evaluated during a period of 35 days. Our data confirm that there is a switch from a T helper cell (Th)1 to a Th2 response during malaria infection in this model. Proliferation assays showed a decreased stimulation index in infected mice that was further reduced in infected mice treated with CQ. Noninfected control mice treated with CQ showed an increase production of IFN-gamma. However, no detectable changes in IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 production were observed in this group. CQ treatment of infected mice resulted in parasite clearance that was associated with an earlier production of IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 when compared with nontreated infected mice. We suggest that this earlier switch to a Th2 response is a consequence of parasite killing rather than CQ interference with cytokine production.
Rosa
R
R
Centro de Malária e Outras Doenças Tropicais/Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal.
Silveira
H
H
Seixas
E
E
Rolão
N
N
Santos-Gomes
G
G
do Rosário
V
V
D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D016788:Plasmodium chabaudi / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
D000962:Antimalarials; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007378:Interleukins; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D002738:Chloroquine