Evidence for multiple pathologic and protective mechanisms of murine cerebral malaria

Murine cerebral malaria (CM) induced by Plasmodium berghei ANKA kills susce ptible mice within 24 to 48 h of onset of symptoms and is characterized by the production of inflammatory cytokines in the brain. C57BL/6J mice are se nsitive to lethal CM, while A/J mice are resistant. These strains of mice w ere immunized with an adjuvant vaccine of killed whole-blood-stage parasite s. The immunization protected C57BL/6 mice from lethal CM following virulen t challenge. The same immunization increased the incidence of lethal CM in A/J mice challenged similarly. Histopathologic examination of the brains of mice from these studies revealed two distinct types of lesions. Type I CM is acute in onset; usually lethal; and characterized bg widespread microgli al activation, endothelial cell damage, and microvascular disruption in the brain. Type IE CM is characterized by intense, but focal, mononuclear cell inflammation without endothelial cell damage or microvascular destruction. Animals with type II lesions were clinically normal and protected from typ e I lesions. Available clinical, epidemiological, and biochemical evidence suggests that type I and type II lesions might exist in human CR I as well.