Depletion of CD4+ or CD8+ T-cells prevents Plasmodium berghei induced cerebral malaria in end-stage disease.

The role of T-cells in development of experimental cerebral malaria was analysed in C57B1/6J and C57B1/10 mice infected with Plasmodium berghei K173 or Plasmodium berghei ANKA by treatment with anti-CD4 or anti-CD8 mAbs. Mice were protected against cerebral malaria (CM) when anti-CD4 or anti-CD8 mAbs were injected before or during infection. Even in mice in end-stage disease, i.e. with a body temperature below 35.5 degrees C, treatment with anti-CD4 or anti-CD8 antibodies or the combination protected against CM, whereas chloroquine treatment was completely ineffective in inhibiting further development of the cerebral syndrome.