Targeting anemia-induced CD71⁺ reticulocytes protects mice from <i>Plasmodium</i> infection.

ABSTRACT: Malaria, caused by Plasmodium spp., is a global health concern linked to anemia and increased mortality. Compensatory erythropoiesis seen during acute anemia results in an increased circulating reticulocyte count (i.e., immature RBC), a key factor in understanding the relationship between pre-existing anemia and Plasmodium burden. Reticulocytes in mice are marked by transferrin receptor (CD71⁺) and glycophorin A-associated protein (Ter119⁺). To model acute anemia with increased reticulocytes, C57BL/6J mice were either bled (i.e., phlebotomized) or administered phenylhydrazine before being infected with Plasmodium yoelii (P. yoelii), a mouse-specific strain with a preference for reticulocytes. In P. yoelii-infected anemic mice, we obs

SUBMITTER: Zeydabadinejad S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12341372 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature