Plasmodium yoelii: assessment of production and role of nitric oxide during the early stages of infection in susceptible and resistant mice.
There is conflicting evidence regarding the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the process of resistance against blood-stage malaria parasites. In this study, we used two strains of mice infected with Plasmodium yoelii 17XL in order to assess the NO production profile and its possible role during the early stage of malaria infection. We found a greater elevation of NO production associated with a sharp increase in the levels of IFN-gamma in infected DBA/2 mice, compared with infected BALB/c mice. This difference was associated with relatively lower parasitemia, a higher constituent ratio of infected reticulocytes, and greater survival in DBA/2 mice. Endogenous IFN-gamma driving Th1 immunity was responsible for NO production. Moreover, schizonts treated in vitro with NO donors caused a delayed infection to BALB/c mice in a dose and time-dependent manner. These data, thus, suggest that NO may play an inhibitory role in Plasmodium infection.
Wang
Qing-hui
QH
Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, No. 92 Beier Road, Heping District, Shenyang, China.
Liu
Ying-jie
YJ
Liu
Jun
J
Chen
Guang
G
Zheng
Wei
W
Wang
Ji-chun
JC
Cao
Ya-ming
YM
D000818:Animals; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000502:physiology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008288:Malaria / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000494:pharmacology; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010967:Plasmodium yoelii / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007371:Interferon-gamma