IL-4

Molecular group: 
Cytokines and receptors
Molecule/Cell: 
IL-4
Plasmodium strain: 
Plasmodium berghei ANKA
pRBC infection titer: 
sporozoites (400 or 800) or pRBC (10^2, 10^4 or 10^6)
Mouse genetic background (Con): 
BALB/c
Level of backcrossing: 
Backcrossed for 6 generations
Experimental treatment group (EG): 
IL-4 -/-
Lethal infection (Con): 
yes
Lethal infection (EG): 
20% (infection with 400 sporozoites); yes (infection with pRBC or 800 sporozoites)
Pathology (Con): 
N.I.
Pathology (EG): 
N.I.
Parasitemia (EG vs Con): 
No detectable parasitemia (infection with 400 sporozoites) or similar (infection with pRBC or 400 sporozoites)
Additional phenotypes (EG vs Con): 
Surviving mice after infection with 400 sporozoites:↑ IFN-g-producing NK cells and NOS2 expression (mRNA and protein) in the liver; in uninfected and 2 days p.i.: similar numbers of CD4, CD8, NK, NKT and B cells in the liver
Refs: 
Saeftel et al., 2004, Infect Immun