Interferons and Interferon Regulatory Factors in Malaria
Table 2
List of malarial ligands that stimulate different signaling molecules to trigger diverse immune responses and affect disease outcome in various experimental models.
Ligand
Signalling molecules involved
Cell types/mice
Immune responses/functions
Ref.
GPI
TLR1-TLR2 heterodimer
BMDM, PBMC
Stimulates production of TNF-, IL-12, IL-6, and NO
Stimulates production of IFN-I Controls parasitemia Prevents parasite sequestration in the brain capillaries and apoptosis in the spleen Promotes phagocytosis activity of macrophages
Involved in ECM development initiated with sporozoites Partially involved in ECM development initiated with iRBCs Regulates production of IFN-, MCP-1, TNF-, and IL-10
Controls parasitemia and promotes survival Essential Th1 development and cell-mediated immunity Stimulates production of TNF- and IL-12 by DC Controls production of IL-10 and IL-4 by DC Induces cytotoxic activity in NK and CD8+ T cells
TLR7 mediates IFN- production by NK cells 24 h after infection TLR7 stimulates production of IFN-I, IFN-, IL-10, and IL-12 TLR9 mediates IFN- production by CD4+ cells and stimulates production of TNF 6 days after infection