Granuloma formation in the liver is relatively delayed, although sustained, in BCG‑infected mice co‑infected with Plasmodium.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of Plasmodium on the process of granuloma formation in Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-infected mice. Female six-week-old BALB/c mice were co-infected with BCG and Plasmodium. The liver index, pathological alterations and quantity of granulomas in the mice were observed when the mice were co-injected with BCG and Plasmodium. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was assessed by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. In addition, the expression of interleukin (IL)-10 in liver tissues was observed by RT-PCR. Following co-infection with BCG and Plasmodium, the swelling of the liver had been slowly restored to normal, and the time required to allow granulomas to subside had prolonged. In addition, the expression of iNOS increased, while the expression of IL-10 gradually decreased in Plasmodium-infected mice. It was concluded that the use of Plasmodium relatively delayed granuloma formation in livers of BCG-infected mice. In addition, iNOS and IL-10 are involved in this pathogenesis.