Failure of Two Distinct Anti-apoptotic Approaches to Reduce Mortality in Experimental Cerebral Malaria

Andrew J. Helmers Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health, McLaughlin Centre for Molecular Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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Fiona E. Lovegrove Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health, McLaughlin Centre for Molecular Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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John M. Harlan Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health, McLaughlin Centre for Molecular Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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Kevin C. Kain Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health, McLaughlin Centre for Molecular Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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W. Conrad Liles Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health, McLaughlin Centre for Molecular Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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Cerebral malaria is responsible for a high proportion of mortality in human Plasmodium falciparum infection. Previous studies have reported the presence of apoptosis in endothelial cells, astrocytes, neurons, and glial cells in experimental murine cerebral malaria caused by infection with Plasmodium berghei ANKA. Using this model, we tested two strategies, which have been shown to improve survival in murine models of sepsis: 1) treatment with z-VAD, a pancaspase inhibitor; and 2) overexpression of Bcl-2 using transgenic mice expressing human Bcl-2 (which prevents the release of apoptotic mediators from the mitochondria) from a myeloid cell promoter. Neither of these anti-apoptotic strategies, previously shown to provide therapeutic benefit in sepsis, improved survival in experimental cerebral malaria.

Author Notes

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