Human recombinant tumor necrosis factor alpha protects susceptible A/J mice against lethal Plasmodium chabaudi AS infection

Abstract

The effect of intravenous treatment with human recombinant tumor necrosis factor alpha (rTNF-α) on infection of susceptible A/J and resistant C57BL/6 mice with Plasmodium chabaudi AS was examined. Treatment of A/J mice with 103 or 105 U of rTNF-α on days 0, 3, 5, 7, and 9 after intraperitoneal infection with 106 parasitized erythrocytes resulted in 80% survival and a significant decrease in the peak parasitemia level. Treatment of susceptible A/J hosts with 105 but not 103 U of rTNF-α resulted in increased survival but did not after the peak parasitemia level following infection with 107 parasitized erythrocytes. Moreover, all surviving A/J mice completely eliminated the parasite by approximately 4 weeks and were fully protected against a secondary infection. Except at a dose of 5 x 105 U of rTNF-α, which resulted in 100% mortality of infected animals, rTNF-α did not alter the course or outcome of infection with P. chabaudi AS in resistant C57BL/6 mice.