Protecting against lethal malaria-induced hypoglycemia and hyperinflammation

In malaria, loss of disease tolerance results in severe complications that are challenging to manage and can result in death. 

The researchers show that in wildtype (WT) mice, GR signaling suppresses STAT3 activation during Plasmodium chabaudi AS (PcAS) infection, preserving normoglycemia and controlling inflammation.

In contrast, GR-deficient (GRiKO) mice exhibit excessive STAT3 activation, resulting in hypoglycemia, uncontrolled inflammation, and death.

Pharmacological inhibition of STAT3 with ruxolitinib in GRiKO mice restores glycemia and controls cytokine levels and restores disease tolerance.

https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.1038/s44321-025-00264-w

https://sciencemission.com/malaria-induced-hypoglycemia-and-hyperinflammation