Modulation of malaria-induced immunopathology by concurrent gastrointestinal nematode infection in mice.
We investigated malaria-associated pathology in mice co-infected with Heligmosomoides polygyrus (Hp) and Plasmodium chabaudi AS (Pc). Despite higher peak parasitemia, co-infected wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice displayed similar body weight losses, malarial anaemia, and tissue damage but less severe hypothermia and hypoglycaemia, and earlier reticulocytosis than Pc-infected WT mice. Co-infected STAT6(-/-) mice, deficient in nematode-induced Th2 responses, experienced similar peak parasitemias and generally suffered malaria-associated pathology to a similar degree as co-infected WT mice. These data indicate a complex relationship amongst helminths, malaria and host immune responses resulting in modulation of some but not all aspects of malaria-associated pathology.
Segura
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Centre for the Study of Host Resistance, Department of Medicine, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre and Centre for Host-Parasite Interactions, Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. mariela.segura@umontreal.ca
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Thawani
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Stevenson
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D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D008288:Malaria / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009351:Nematospiroides dubius / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D016788:Plasmodium chabaudi / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor / Q000276:immunology; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D016207:Cytokines; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; C494100:Stat6 protein, mouse