Plasmodium falciparum histones induce endothelial proinflammatory response and barrier dysfunction.

ABSTRACT: Plasmodium falciparum is a protozoan parasite of human erythrocytes that causes the most severe form of malaria. Severe P. falciparum infection is associated with endothelial activation and permeability, which are important determinants of the outcome of the infection. How endothelial cells become activated is not fully understood, particularly with regard to the effects of parasite subcomponents. We demonstrated that P. falciparum histones extracted from merozoites (HeH) directly stimulated the production of IL-8 and other inflammatory mediators by primary human dermal microvascular endothelial cells through a signaling pathway that involves Src family kinases and p38 MAPK. The stimulatory effect of HeH and recombinant P. falciparum H3 (PfH3) was abrogated by histone-specific antibodies.

SUBMITTER: Gillrie MR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3448071 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature