2 DISTINCT TYPES OF NONSPECIFIC IMMUNOSUPPRESSION IN MURINE MALARIA

Google Scholar
  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 42  (3) , 428-435
Abstract
A comparative study of non-specific immunosuppression by malaria was carried out in 5 situations: in both unvaccinated and vaccinated mice infected with the lethal Plasmodium voelii or the lethal P. berghei, and in the unvaccinated non-lethal P. voelii infection. Spleen cells showed a suppressive effect on the normal blastogenic mitogen [phytohemagglutinin, lipopolysaccharide] response. This suppression was strongest in the mice vaccinated before infection with the lethal P. yoelii and in those infected with non-lethal P. yoelii, suggesting that the suppressive effect did not interfere with recovery. Silica, anti-Thy-1, and indomethacin treatment suggested that this suppression was caused by macrophages. The plaque-forming cell response to sheep red blood cells in vivo was suppressed equally in every case at the parasitemia peak, whereas the suppression of contact sensitivity to oxazolone was strongest in mice with fatal infections. Apparently different suppressor mechanisms operate in malaria, some being harmful to the host and others possibly beneficial.