Figure 6. Hemozoin-mediated impairments in humoral immunity are governed by NLRP3.

PbTII cells were transferred to C57BL/6 and NLRP3^−/− mice 1 day prior to infection with either Δpm4Δbp2 or Δlap parasites. Splenic GC responses were evaluated on day 14 p.i.

(A) Representative flow plots of CD150^loCXCR5^int T_FH and CXCR5^hiPD-1^hi GC-T_FH populations.

(B) CXCR5^hiPD-1^hi GC-T_FH cells were sort purified on day 14 p.i., co-cultured with naive B cells, and the frequency of CD95⁺GL-7₊ GC B cells was quantified after 5 days.

(C and D) Representative flow plots (C) and frequency (D) of CD80⁺PD-L2⁺CD73⁺CD38⁺CD95^neg MBC on day 28 p.i.

(E) C57BL/6 and NLRP3^−/− mice were immunized with Δpm4Δbp2 and Δlap parasites 60 days prior to challenge with a virulent Pb-ANKA strain.

(F) Frequency of immune mice that survived virulent Pb-ANKA challenge.

(G) MSP1_1–19-specific IgG endpoint titers 1 day prior to (pre) and 5 days after (post) virulent Pb-ANKA challenge.

Data (mean ± SD) in (A)–(D) are representative of three experiments with n = 3–4. Data (mean ± SD) in (E)–(G) are representative of two independent experiments with n = 3–4 per experimental group (see also Figure S5).