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Protective effect of amiodarone in malaria
Diwakar Bobbala1, Ioana Alesutan, Michael Föller
1Department of Physiology, University of Tübingen, Gmelinstrasse 5, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany.
Acta Tropica
|June 1, 2010
Summary
Amiodarone enhances suicidal erythrocyte death (eryptosis) in Plasmodium-infected cells, reducing malaria parasite growth and improving host survival in mice.
Area of Science:
- Malariology
- Cell Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Amiodarone induces suicidal erythrocyte death (eryptosis), characterized by cell shrinkage and phosphatidylserine exposure.
- Eryptosis may accelerate the clearance of Plasmodium-infected erythrocytes, potentially impacting malaria progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if amiodarone augments phosphatidylserine exposure in Plasmodium-infected erythrocytes.
- To determine if amiodarone interferes with Plasmodium development and influences malaria course.
Main Methods:
- In vitro infection of human erythrocytes with Plasmodium falciparum (strain BinH) and treatment with amiodarone.
- Assessment of annexin V-binding, intraerythrocytic DNA/RNA content, and parasitemia.
- In vivo infection of mice with Plasmodium berghei ANKA and amiodarone treatment.
Main Results:
- Amiodarone significantly augmented phosphatidylserine exposure on Plasmodium-infected erythrocytes.
- Amiodarone decreased intraerythrocytic DNA/RNA content and in vitro parasitemia.
- In vivo, amiodarone reduced parasitemia, increased survival in P. berghei-infected mice, and elevated PS-exposing infected erythrocytes.
Conclusions:
- Amiodarone inhibits intraerythrocytic Plasmodium falciparum growth.
- Amiodarone enhances suicidal death of infected erythrocytes, reducing parasitemia and improving host survival during malaria.
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