POLY-ICLC ENHANCES THE ANTIMALARIAL ACTIVITY OF CHLOROQUINE AGAINST MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT PLASMODIUM-YOELII NIGERIENSIS IN MICE

Swiss mice infected with multidrug-resistant Plasmodium yoelii nigerie nsis were treated with polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid stabilized with polylysine and carboxymethyl cellulose (Poly ICLC), a potent interfer on (IFN) inducer and immune enhancer, in combination with chloroquine (CQ), which completely eliminated the malaria parasite from these anim als, The enhancement of the antimalarial activity of poly ICLC was fou nd to be completely reversed by the cytochrome P-450 inducer, phenobar bitone. No effect of Nw nitro-L-arginine (NLA), an inhibitor of nitric oxide, was seen on the enhancement of the antimalarial activity of CQ by Poly ICLC, These results suggest the possible involvement of cytoc hrome P-450 enzyme-mediated mechanism in the enhancement of the antima larial activity of CQ by Poly ICLC.