Interleukin-33 exerts pleiotropic immunoregulatory effects in response to Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA) infection in mice

• Published in: Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine
• Main Authors: Mohammad Faruq Abd Rachman Isnadi, Rusliza Basir, Ramatu Bello Omenesa, Majid Roslaini Abd, Abdullah Maizaton Atmadini, Taib Che Norma Mat, Priya Sivan Padma, Yong Yean Kong, Chin Voon Kin, Gambo Lawal Mukhtar
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2023
• Subjects: plasmodium berghei anka; malaria; il-33; immunology; immunotherapy; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Biology (General); QH301-705.5; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.4103/2221-1691.391157; https://doaj.org/article/bbcd485698064710a11c2f48daa11765

Objective: To determine the involvement and the modulatory effects of IL-33 during Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA) infection. Methods: PbA infection in male ICR mice was utilized as a model of malaria. Systemically circulating IL-33 levels were determined in blood plasma by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). After 24 hours post-inoculation of PbA, recombinant IL-33 and ST2, and antibodies against IL-33 and IgG treatments were administered daily for 3 days. Tissue expression and localization of IL-33 were assessed in organs generally affected by malaria via immunohistochemistry. Moreover, histopathological examination was performed to assess the effects of the treatments. Results: The levels of systemic IL-33 were elevated at the critical phase of PbA infection. Likewise, immunohistochemical analysis revealed a significant upregulation of IL-33 expression at the critical phase in the brain, lungs, and spleen of PbA-infected mice as compared to healthy controls. Treatment with IL-33 protected against experimental cerebral malaria development and reduced pathological features in the brain and lungs of the PbA-infected mice. Conclusions: A potential critical role and involvement of IL-33 in PbA infection may hint at the resolution of immunopathological sequelae associated with malaria.