SPLENIC INTERLEUKIN-1 GENE-EXPRESSION IS ASSOCIATED WITH ACCUMULATIONOF MACROPHAGES AND OXYGEN RADICAL PRODUCTION IN PLASMODIUM-VINCKEI MALARIA

High levels of interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) were detected in vitro , in murine peritoneal macrophages stimulated with Plasmodium vinckei exogenous antigens, and in vivo, in sera of P. vinckei-parasitized mic e. Moreover, high production of IL-1 alpha mRNA could be detected by i n situ hybridization analysis in spleen sections of mice during the co urse of P. vinckei malaria. The observed IL-1 alpha gene expression in the spleen was associated with the accumulation of F4/80(+) macrophag es in the red pulp and in the marginal zone of follicles, as well as w ith the relative proportions of Mac-1(+) cells in the spleen and the c apacity of spleen cells to produce reactive oxygen intermediates durin g murine malaria.