Xin Li, Ning Jiang, Qilong Li, Kexin Zheng, Yiwei Zhang, Xiaoyu Sang, Ying Feng, Ran Chen, Qijun Chen
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Artemisinin (ART) is a frontline drug for the treatment of malaria; however, the emergence of ART-resistant Plasmodium strains necessitates increasing ART sensitivity. Given that taurine (TAU) has been shown to have immunomodulatory activity, we investigated the effects of TAU as an adjunct therapy to ART in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei.
Methods: Mice infected with P. berghei ANKA strain (P. berghei ANKA) were treated with TAU alone, ART alone or a combination of TAU and ART (TAU + ART), and their survival time and parasitaemia were recorded. The cytotoxic effects of TAU and ART were subsequently assessed. The expression levels of inflammasome-related genes and inflammatory factors in mice infected with P. berghei ANKA were analysed in relation to those in mice treated with TAU alone, ART alone or the TAU + ART combination. The therapeutic effects were further evaluated by histological analysis and measurement of the spleen index.
Results: Compared with the control mice, P. berghei ANKA-infected mice treated with ART in combination with TAU presented significantly lower parasitaemia and prolonged survival. The combined treatment resulted in significant reductions in the expression levels of inflammasome-related genes in the spleen, including absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2), caspase-1, NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (Nlrp3), Nlrp1b, Nlrp1b, NLR family CARD domain containing 4 (Nlrc4), Nlrp6, nucleotide binding oligomerization domain containing 1 (NOD1) and NOD2, and decreases in the levels of inflammatory cytokines in the serum, including interleukin (IL)-12p70, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, IL-10 and IL-6. Histopathological analysis confirmed that TAU + ART combination treatment reduced spleen pathology caused by P. berghei ANKA infection.
Conclusions: The findings indicate that TAU potentiates ART efficacy by modulating the immune response in P. berghei-infected mice.
期刊介绍：
Parasites & Vectors is an open access, peer-reviewed online journal dealing with the biology of parasites, parasitic diseases, intermediate hosts, vectors and vector-borne pathogens. Manuscripts published in this journal will be available to all worldwide, with no barriers to access, immediately following acceptance. However, authors retain the copyright of their material and may use it, or distribute it, as they wish.
Manuscripts on all aspects of the basic and applied biology of parasites, intermediate hosts, vectors and vector-borne pathogens will be considered. In addition to the traditional and well-established areas of science in these fields, we also aim to provide a vehicle for publication of the rapidly developing resources and technology in parasite, intermediate host and vector genomics and their impacts on biological research. We are able to publish large datasets and extensive results, frequently associated with genomic and post-genomic technologies, which are not readily accommodated in traditional journals. Manuscripts addressing broader issues, for example economics, social sciences and global climate change in relation to parasites, vectors and disease control, are also welcomed.
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