NK cells and conventional dendritic cells engage in reciprocal activation for the induction of inflammatory responses during Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection.

Cerebral malaria (CM) is the most severe syndrome associated with Plasmodium falciparum infections. Experimental evidence suggests that disease results from the sequestration of parasitized-red blood cells (pRBCs) together with inflammatory leukocytes within brain capillaries. We have previously shown that NK cells stimulate migration of CXCR3(+) T cells to the brain of Plasmodium berghei ANKA-infected mice. Here we investigated whether interactions between NK cells and dendritic cells (DCs) are required for the induction of T cell responses involved in disease. For that, NK cell-depleted and control mice were infected with transgenic parasites expressing model T cell epitopes. T cells from TCR transgenic mice specific for those epitopes were adoptively transferred and proliferation was determined. NK cell depletion significantly reduced CD8(+) but not CD4(+) DC-mediated T cell priming. Lack of NK cells did not compromise CD8(+) T cell responses in IL-12(-/-) mice, suggesting that NK cells stimulate IL-12 output by DCs required for optimal T cell priming. The contribution of DCs to NK cell function was also investigated. DC depletion and genetic deletion of IL-12 dramatically reduced NK cell-mediated IFN-γ responses to malaria. Thus NK cells and DCs engage in reciprocal activation for the induction of inflammatory responses involved in severe malaria.

Ryg-Cornejo V ，Nie CQ ，Bernard NJ ，Lundie RJ ，Evans KJ ，Crabb BS ，Schofield L ，Hansen DS ... -  《-》

Participation of lymphocyte subpopulations in the pathogenesis of experimental murine cerebral malaria.

Yañez DM ，Manning DD ，Cooley AJ ，Weidanz WP ，van der Heyde HC ... -  《JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY》

Role of IL-10-producing regulatory B cells in control of cerebral malaria in Plasmodium berghei infected mice.

Cerebral malaria (CM) is a neurological syndrome often occurring in severe malaria. Although CM is known as an immunopathology in brain tissue mediated by excessive proinflammatory cytokines, the immunoregulatory mechanism is poorly understood. Here, we investigated the role of IL-10-producing regulatory B (Breg) cells in modulating CM development in a murine model of Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection. We observed that blood-stage P. berghei induced expansion of IL-10-producing Breg cells in C57BL/6 mice. Adoptive transfer of IL-10(+) Breg cells to P. berghei infected mice significantly reduced the accumulation of NK and CD8(+) T cells and hemorrhage in brain tissue, and improved the survival of the mice compared with control groups, although parasitemia levels were not altered. Treatment of Breg-cell recipient mice with anti-IL-10 receptor mAb blocked the protective effect of Breg cells. Adoptive transfer of CD4(+) CD25(+) Treg cells failed to prevent CM in infected mice. Spleen cells from Breg-cell recipient mice produced increased levels of IL-10 in vitro. Cell co-culture showed that purified IL-10(+) B cells, but not IL-10(-) B cells, promoted IL-10 production by CD4(+) T cells. These results demonstrate that IL-10-producing Breg cells may represent an important mechanism for controlling the immunopathology and prevention of CM associated with P. berghei infection.

Liu Y ，Chen Y ，Li Z ，Han Y ，Sun Y ，Wang Q ，Liu B ，Su Z ... -  《-》

Type I interferons contribute to experimental cerebral malaria development in response to sporozoite or blood-stage Plasmodium berghei ANKA.

Cerebral malaria is a severe complication of Plasmodium falciparum infection. Although T-cell activation and type II IFN-γ are required for Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA)-induced murine experimental cerebral malaria (ECM), the role of type I IFN-α/β in ECM development remains unclear. Here, we address the role of the IFN-α/β pathway in ECM devel-opment in response to hepatic or blood-stage PbA infection, using mice deficient for types I or II IFN receptors. While IFN-γR1⁻/⁻ mice were fully resistant, IFNAR1⁻/⁻ mice showed delayed and partial protection to ECM after PbA infection. ECM resistance in IFN-γR1⁻/⁻ mice correlated with unaltered cerebral microcirculation and absence of ischemia, while WT and IFNAR1⁻/⁻ mice developed distinct microvascular pathologies. ECM resistance appeared to be independent of parasitemia. Instead, key mediators of ECM were attenuated in the absence of IFNAR1, including PbA-induced brain sequestration of CXCR3⁺-activated CD8⁺ T cells. This was associated with reduced expression of Granzyme B, IFN-γ, IL-12Rβ2, and T-cell-attracting chemokines CXCL9 and CXCL10 in IFNAR1⁻/⁻ mice, more so in the absence of IFN-γR1. Therefore, the type I IFN-α/β receptor pathway contributes to brain T-cell responses and microvascular pathology, although it is not as essential as IFN-γ for the development of cerebral malaria upon hepatic or blood-stage PbA infection.

Palomo J ，Fauconnier M ，Coquard L ，Gilles M ，Meme S ，Szeremeta F ，Fick L ，Franetich JF ，Jacobs M ，Togbe D ，Beloeil JC ，Mazier D ，Ryffel B ，Quesniaux VF ... -  《-》

CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells suppress CD4+ T-cell function and inhibit the development of Plasmodium berghei-specific TH1 responses involved in cerebral malaria pathogenesis.

Nie CQ ，Bernard NJ ，Schofield L ，Hansen DS ... -  《-》