Pipecolic Acid, a Putative Mediator of the Encephalopathy of Cerebral Malaria and the Experimental Model of Cerebral Malaria.

ABSTRACT:

Background

We explored a metabolic etiology of cerebral malaria (CM) coma.

Methods

Plasma metabolites were compared between Malawian children with CM and mild Plasmodium falciparum malaria. A candidate molecule was further studied in animal models of malaria.

Results

Clinically abnormal concentrations of pipecolic acid (PA) were present in CM plasma, and nearly normal in mild malaria samples. PA is renally cleared and the elevated PA blood levels were associated with renal insufficiency, which was present only in CM subjects. Prior studies demonstrate that PA has neuromodulatory effects and is generated by malaria parasites. PA brain levels in Plasmodium berghei ANKA-infected animals in the experimental cerebral malaria (ECM) model inversely correlated with normal beh

SUBMITTER: Keswani T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8844588 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature