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Ounjaijean S, Somsak V. Synergistic antimalarial treatment of Plasmodium berghei infection in mice with dihydroartemisinin and Gymnema inodorum leaf extract. BMC Complement Med Ther 2023; 23:20. [PMID: 36690988 PMCID: PMC9869572 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-03850-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chemotherapy is crucial in the fight against malaria. The rise of resistance to most antimalarial medicines has been a serious hurdle to effective treatment. Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) are currently the most effective antimalarial medication. Malaria parasites are growing more resistant to ACTs, particularly in Southeast Asia. As a result, effective alternative antimalarials are in high demand. The leaf extract of Gymnema inodorum (GIE) has previously shown promise as an effective antimalarial. Therefore, this study evaluated the antimalarial potential of combination dihydroartemisinin (DHA) and GIE therapy against Plasmodium berghei in a mouse model. METHODS The medications were evaluated using the standard 4-day test for determining the 50% effective dosage (ED50) of DHA and GIE on P. berghei ANKA (PbANKA). DHA and GIE were combined using a fixed-ratio approach, with DHA/GIE ED50s of 100/0, 80/20, 60/40, 40/60, 20/80, and 0/100, respectively. RESULTS The ED50 against PbANKA was determined to be 2 mg/kg of DHA and 100 mg/kg of GIE. The 60/40 (DHA/GIE) ratio demonstrated significantly higher antimalarial activity than the other ratios (p < 0.001) against PbANKA, with 88.95% inhibition, suggesting synergistic efficacy (combination index (CI) = 0.68695). Furthermore, this ratio protected PbANKA-infected mice against loss of body weight and packed cell volume decline, leading to a longer survival time over 30 days. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that GIE could be an effective adjuvant to DHA that can enhance the antimalarial effects in the treatment of PbANKA-infected mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sakaewan Ounjaijean
- grid.7132.70000 0000 9039 7662Research Institute for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University, 50200 Chiang Mai, Thailand ,grid.7132.70000 0000 9039 7662Environmental-Occupational Health Sciences and Non-Communicable Diseases Research Group (EOHS and NCD Research Group), Research Institute for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University, 50200 Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Voravuth Somsak
- grid.412867.e0000 0001 0043 6347School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, 80160 Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand ,grid.412867.e0000 0001 0043 6347Research Excellence Center for Innovation and Health Products, Walailak University, 80160 Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
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Niikura M, Fukutomi T, Mineo S, Mitobe J, Kobayashi F. Malaria in the postpartum period causes damage to the mammary gland. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0258491. [PMID: 34644348 PMCID: PMC8513860 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland in the breast and is typically due to bacterial infection. In malaria-endemic areas, mastitis with accompanying fever can be challenging to differentiate from malaria. At the same time, it is unclear whether malaria infection is directly involved in the development of mastitis. In the present study, whether mastitis develops during infection with malaria parasites was investigated using a rodent malaria model with Plasmodium berghei (P. berghei; Pb) ANKA. The course of parasitemia in postpartum mice infected with Pb ANKA was similar to the course in infected virgin mice. However, infected postpartum mice died earlier than did infected virgin mice. In addition, the weight of pups from mice infected with Pb ANKA was significantly reduced compared with pups from uninfected mice. The macroscopic and histological analyses showed apparent changes, such as destruction of the alveolus wall and extensive presence of leukocytes, in mammary gland tissue in mice infected during the postpartum period. The findings suggest that women during the postpartum period are more vulnerable to complications when infected with malaria parasites, particularly women who do not acquire protective immunity against malaria parasites. Based on the proteomic analysis, IFN-γ signaling pathway-related proteins in mammary gland tissue of the infected postpartum mice were increased. Our results indicate that inflammation induced by IFN-γ, a proinflammatory cytokine, may contribute to negative histological changes in mammary gland tissue of postpartum mice infected with Pb ANKA. In IFN-γ receptor 1-deficient (IFNGR1-KO) mice, the histological changes in mammary gland tissue of the infected postpartum wild-type mice were improved to almost normal mammary gland structure. Furthermore, weight loss in pups delivered by infected IFNGR1-KO postpartum mice was not observed. Taken together, these findings indicate that inflammation induced by IFN-γ is associated with development of mastitis in postpartum mice infected with Pb ANKA. The present study results may increase our understanding of how disease aggravation occurs during postpartum malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mamoru Niikura
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Fukutomi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shoichiro Mineo
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jiro Mitobe
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Fumie Kobayashi
- Department of Environmental Science, School of Life and Environmental Science, Azabu University, Kanagawa, Japan
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Vijay R, Guthmiller JJ, Sturtz AJ, Crooks S, Johnson JT, Li L, Lan LYL, Pope RL, Chen Y, Rogers KJ, Dutta N, Toombs JE, Wilson ME, Wilson PC, Maury W, Brekken RA, Butler NS. Hemolysis-associated phosphatidylserine exposure promotes polyclonal plasmablast differentiation. J Exp Med 2021; 218:e20202359. [PMID: 33830176 PMCID: PMC8040514 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20202359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimalarial antibody responses are essential for mediating the clearance of Plasmodium parasite-infected RBCs from infected hosts. However, the rapid appearance of large numbers of plasmablasts in Plasmodium-infected hosts can suppress the development and function of durable humoral immunity. Here, we identify that the formation of plasmablast populations in Plasmodium-infected mice is mechanistically linked to both hemolysis-induced exposure of phosphatidylserine on damaged RBCs and inflammatory cues. We also show that virus and Trypanosoma infections known to trigger hemolytic anemia and high-grade inflammation also induce exuberant plasmablast responses. The induction of hemolysis or administration of RBC membrane ghosts increases plasmablast differentiation. The phosphatidylserine receptor Axl is critical for optimal plasmablast formation, and blocking phosphatidylserine limits plasmablast expansions and reduces Plasmodium parasite burden in vivo. Our findings support that strategies aimed at modulating polyclonal B cell activation and phosphatidylserine exposure may improve immune responses against Plasmodium parasites and potentially other infectious diseases that are associated with anemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Vijay
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
| | - Jenna J. Guthmiller
- Department of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Alexandria J. Sturtz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
| | - Sequoia Crooks
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Immunology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
| | - Jordan T. Johnson
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Immunology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | | | | | - Yani Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
| | - Kai J. Rogers
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
| | - Nirmal Dutta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
| | - Jason E. Toombs
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Mary E. Wilson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Immunology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
- Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Iowa City, IA
| | - Patrick C. Wilson
- Department of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
- Committee on Immunology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Wendy Maury
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Immunology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
| | - Rolf A. Brekken
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
- Departments of Surgery and Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Noah S. Butler
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Immunology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
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Gao W, Sun X, Li D, Sun L, He Y, Wei H, Jin F, Cao Y. Toll-like receptor 4, Toll-like receptor 7 and Toll-like receptor 9 agonists enhance immune responses against blood-stage Plasmodium chabaudi infection in BALB/c mice. Int Immunopharmacol 2020; 89:107096. [PMID: 33091818 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2020.107096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toll-like receptor (TLR) signals play vital roles during the blood-stage of malaria infections. However, the roles of TLR agonists in the regulation of immune responses and the development of protective immunity to malaria remain poorly understood. METHOD BALB/c mice were pre-treated with TLR4, TLR7 and TLR9 agonists, followed by infection with Plasmodium chabaudi. After infection, splenic dendritic cells (DCs), Th1 cells and programmed death-1 (PD-1) expressed on Th1 cells, as well as regulatory T cells (Tregs) were analyzed by flow cytometry. The levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, TGF-β and IL-10 in splenocytes and IgG1 and IgG2a in serum were measured by ELISA. RESULT Administration of TLR4, TLR7 and TLR9 agonists prior to infection improved disease outcomes. All TLR agonists promoted DC activation, and the proportions of Th1 cells increased. In TLR4, TLR7 and TLR9 agonist treated groups the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and TNF-α were elevated, and IgG1 and IgG2a serum levels were also significantly increased. TLR4, TLR7 and TLR9 agonists diminished the activation of Tregs and down-regulated the anti-inflammatory cytokines TGF-β and IL-10. Finally, PD-1 expressed on Th1 cells were decreased in TLR4, TLR7 and TLR9 agonist treated groups compared with control groups. CONCLUSION TLR4, TLR7 and TLR9 agonists activated DC-mediated innate immune responses and adaptive immune response, which against the blood-stage of Plasmodium and might be applied to malaria protection and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyan Gao
- Department of Immunology, Basic Medicine College of China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, Liaoning, China; Department of Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning, China.
| | - Xiaodan Sun
- Department of Immunology, Basic Medicine College of China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, Liaoning, China
| | - Danni Li
- Department of Immunology, Basic Medicine College of China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, Liaoning, China
| | - Lin Sun
- Department of Immunology, Basic Medicine College of China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, Liaoning, China
| | - Yang He
- Department of Immunology, Basic Medicine College of China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, Liaoning, China
| | - Huanping Wei
- Department of Immunology, Basic Medicine College of China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, Liaoning, China.
| | - Feng Jin
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning, China.
| | - Yaming Cao
- Department of Immunology, Basic Medicine College of China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, Liaoning, China.
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The Glycosylphosphatidylinositol Transamidase Complex Subunit PbGPI16 of Plasmodium berghei Is Important for Inducing Experimental Cerebral Malaria. Infect Immun 2018; 86:IAI.00929-17. [PMID: 29784863 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00929-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In animal models of experimental cerebral malaria (ECM), the glycosylphosphatidylinositols (GPIs) and GPI anchors are the major factors that induce nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation and proinflammatory responses, which contribute to malaria pathogenesis. GPIs and GPI anchors are transported to the cell surface via a process called GPI transamidation, which involves the GPI transamidase (GPI-T) complex. In this study, we showed that GPI16, one of the GPI-T subunits, is highly conserved among Plasmodium species. Genetic knockout of pbgpi16 (Δpbgpi16) in the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei strain ANKA led to a significant reduction of the amounts of GPIs in the membranes of merozoites, as well as surface display of several GPI-anchored merozoite surface proteins. Compared with the wild-type parasites, Δpbgpi16 parasites in C57BL/6 mice caused much less NF-κB activation and elicited a substantially attenuated T helper type 1 response. As a result, Δpbgpi16 mutant-infected mice displayed much less severe brain pathology, and considerably fewer Δpbgpi16 mutant-infected mice died from ECM. This study corroborated the GPI toxin as a significant inducer of ECM and further suggested that vaccines against parasite GPIs may be a promising strategy to limit the severity of malaria.
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