Adherence of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes to chondroitin 4-sulfate

D. Channe Gowda, Christian F. Ockenhouse

    Research output: Contribution to journalShort surveypeer-review

    6 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    Adherence of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes (PRBCs) to the microvascular endothelium of specific organs and consequent sequestration is believed to be responsible for the development of malaria pathology. A number of studies have shown that cell adhesion molecules expressed on the surface of endothelial cells mediate the adherence. Recent studies indicate that a subpopulation of PRBCs adhere to chondroitin 4-sulfate (C4S). This adhesion can be effectively inhibited by C4S oligosaccharides. In pregnant women, the placenta specifically selects C4S-adherent PRBCs, and thus these phenotypes multiply and sequester in the intervillous spaces. Over successive pregnancies, women develop a protective humoral response to the C4S-adhesion phenotype. Disruption of C4S-mediated PRBCs adhesion using either a C4S oligosaccharide mimetic or an antiC4S-adhesion vaccine can be an efficient strategy for the treatment of malaria caused by C4S-adherent P. falciparum.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)261-271
    Number of pages11
    JournalBioscience Reports
    Volume19
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 1999

    All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

    • Biophysics
    • Biochemistry
    • Molecular Biology
    • Cell Biology

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