Endothelial Protein C Receptor Could Contribute to Experimental Malaria-Associated Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Figure 1

ARDS-developing mice have higher levels of pulmonary parasites than HP-developing mice. (a and b) The distribution of infected red blood cells (iRBCs) was analyzed in DBA/2 mice infected with luciferase-expressing P. berghei parasites (PbA-luciferase) on the 7th day postinfection (dpi) and analyzed in vivo by IVIS imaging after luciferin. (c) The organs were individually analyzed after perfusion, and results were plotted with black circles (mice with pleural effusion) and with gray squares (mice without pleural effusion); one-way ANOVA (; ). (d) Perfused lungs from ARDS- and HP-developing mice were collected on the 7th dpi and analyzed by rRNA gene expression of P. berghei ANKA (18S subunit) using the method. Representative image of a perfused lung collected from an ARDS-developing mouse under (e) normal and polarized lights (f) showing the hemozoin pigments, on the 7th dpi. (g) Quantification of the hemozoin area analyzed by ImageJ (magnification: 400x; scale bar: 20 μm). Bars represent the (; ). (d) Unpaired -test and (g) Mann-Whitney’s test. (h) Lung histological analyses showing iRBCs in close contact with endothelial cells (inserts) in an infected mouse that died by ARDS (magnification: 630x; scale bar: 10 μm). ARDS: acute respiratory distress syndrome; HP: hyperparasitemia; Lu: lung; Sp: spleen; Ki: kidney; Li: liver; Br: brain; He: heart.

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