Lymphotoxin alpha and tumour necrosis factor are not required for control of parasite growth, but differentially regulate cytokine production during Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi AS infection

Abstract

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) plays important roles in the pathogenesis of severe malaria, as well as in the generation of immune responses against malaria parasites. However, far less is known about the role of the closely related TNF family member lymphotoxin alpha (LTα) during malaria. We have used mice deficient in either TNF or LTα, as well as chimeric mice generated using donor bone marrow from these animals, to study the roles of these cytokines following Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi AS infection. TNF and LTα were not required for the resolution of P. chabaudi chabaudi AS blood-stage infection. However, LTα, but not TNF, was necessary for early IFNγ production and the regulation of IFN..