Exacerbation of hepatic injury during rodent malaria by myeloid-related protein 14

Hepatic dysfunction is one of the clinical features in severe malaria. However, the mechanism of hepatic injury during malaria is still unknown. Myeloid-related protein (MRP) 14 is abundantly expressed by myeloid cells and involved in various inflammatory diseases. We previously reported that serum MRP14 is elevated in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA. In order to verify whether extracellular MRP14 is involved in the pathology of hepatic injury during rodent malaria, we intravenously administrated recombinant MRP14 (rMRP14) to mice infected with P. berghei ANKA. The administration of rMRP14 did not affect parasite number or hematocrit. On the other hand, the hepatic injury was exacerbated in rMRP14-treated mice, and their serum concentration of hepatic enzymes increased significantly more than PBS-treated controls. Immunohistochemical analysis of the liver showed that more MRP14+ macrophages accumulated in rMRP14-treated mice than PBS-treated controls after infection. The administration of rMRP14 also promotes the up-regulation of pro-inflammatory molecules in the liver, such as iNOS, IL-1β, IL-12, and TNF-α. Even in the absence of Plasmodium infection, administration of rMRP14 could induce the accumulation of MRP14+ macrophages and up-regulation of the pro-inflammatory molecules in the liver of naïve mice. The results indicate that MRP14 promotes the accumulation of MRP14+ cells and the up-regulation of pro-inflammatory molecules and NO, which amplify inflammatory cascade leading to hepatic injury. In conclusion, MRP14 is a one of key molecules for liver inflammation during rodent malaria.