Anxiety-like behavior and proinflammatory cytokine levels in the brain of C57BL/6 mice infected with Plasmodium berghei (strain ANKA)

▶ Cerebral malaria mice presented anxiety symptoms in the elevated plus maze. ▶ Infected mice presented increased levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in the brain. ▶ No significant difference was found in brain levels of IL-4, IL-10 and IFN-γ. ▶ Proinflammatory cytokines may be involved in anxiety symptoms in cerebral malaria.