Protective immunity to erythrocytic Plasmodium chabaudi AS infection involves IFNgamma-mediated responses and a cellular infiltrate to the liver.
IFNgamma receptor (IFNgammaR) deficient mice and IL-4 deficient mice were infected with blood-stage Plasmodium chabaudi AS in order to analyse the role of Th1 (IFNgamma) and Th2 (IL-4)-associated cytokines in the development of protective immunity to the parasite. A high mortality rate and failure to reduce the primary parasitaemia to subpatent levels was observed in the IFNgammaR deficient mice. IL-4 deficient mice controlled a primary P. chabaudi AS infection in a similar manner to control mice and no mortality was observed. IFNyR deficient mice had a reduction in parasite-specific IgG and a significantly increased level of total IgE compared to control mice. There was no reduction in the level of parasite-specific IgG in IL-4 deficient mice. Cytological analysis of the cells present in the spleen and liver during the primary parasitaemia revealed a reduction in the numbers of lymphocytes, monocytes and polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells in the liver at the peak of parasitaemia in both IFNgammaR deficient mice and IL-4 deficient mice compared to control mice. Adoptive transfer studies demonstrated that cells isolated from the liver at day 11 post-infection could confer some protective immunity to P. chabaudi AS infection.
Balmer
P
P
Department of Veterinary Parasitology, University of Glasgow, UK. P.Balmer@vet.gla.ac.uk
Alexander
J
J
Phillips
R S
RS
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000172:deficiency; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D008288:Malaria / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000276:immunology*; D016788:Plasmodium chabaudi / Q000276:immunology*; D017471:Receptors, Interferon / Q000172:deficiency / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D017471:Receptors, Interferon; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma