Interleukin-18 Antagonism Improved Histopathological Conditions of Malaria Infection in Mice

• Main Authors: Marzieh JABBARZARE, Voon Kin CHIN, Herni TALIB, Mun Fei YAM, Siti Khadijah ADAM, Haniza HASSAN, Roslaini ABDUL MAJID, Che Norma MAT TAIB, Mohamad Aris MOHD MOKLAS, Mohamad TAUFIK HIDAYAT, Hasidah MOHD SIDEK, Rusliza BASIR
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tehran University of Medical Sciences 2015-10-01
• Series: Iranian Journal of Parasitology
• Subjects: Malaria; Interleukin-18; Plasmodium berghei; Histopathology
• Online Access: https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/view/304
• ISSN: 1735-7020; 2008-238X

Background: Interleukin 18 (IL-18) exerts pleiotropic roles in many inflammatory-related diseases including parasitic infection. Previous studies have demonstrated the promising therapeutic potential of modulating IL-18 bioactivity in various pathologi­cal conditions. However, its involvement during malaria infection has yet to be established. In this study, we demonstrated the effect of modulating IL-18 on the histopathological conditions of malaria infected mice. Methods: Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection in male ICR mice was used as a model for malaria infection. Modulation of IL-18 release was carried out by treat­ment of malarial mice with recombinant mouse IL-18 (rmIL-18) and recombinant mouse IL-18 Fc chimera (rmIL-18Fc) intravenously. Histopathological study and analysis were performed on major organs including brain, liver, spleen, lungs and kidney. Results: Treatment with rmIL-18Fc resulted in significant improvements on the histopathological conditions of the organs in malaria-infected mice. Conclusion: IL-18 is an important mediator of malaria pathogenesis and targeting IL-18 could prove beneficial in malaria-infected host.