title: Age-related CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T-cell responses during Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection in mice susceptible or resistant to cerebral malaria.
abstract: Different functions have been attributed to CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T-cells (Tregs) during malaria infection. Herein, we describe the disparity in Treg response and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines during infection with Plasmodium berghei ANKA between young (3-week-old) and middle-aged (8-month-old) C57BL/6 mice. Young mice were susceptible to cerebral malaria (CM), while the middle-aged mice were resistant to CM and succumbed to hyperparasitemia and severe anemia. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, in young CM-susceptible mice were markedly higher than in middle-aged CM-resistant mice. An increased absolute number of Tregs 3-5 days post-inoculation, co-occurring with elevated IL-10 levels, was observed in middle-aged CM-resistant mice but not in young CM-susceptible mice. Our findings suggest that Treg proliferation might be associated with the suppression of excessive pro-inflammatory Th1 response during early malaria infection, leading to resistance to CM in the middle-aged mice, possibly in an IL-10-dependent manner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yan-Yan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Yong-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.forename: Ya-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008288:Malaria / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D051379:Mice; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000145:classification*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines
keywords: CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cell; Plasmodium berghei ANKA; age; cerebral malaria; cytokine