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Tumor necrosis factor does not induce Plasmodium falciparum crisis forms.
Infection and Immunity
|July 1, 1987
Summary
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in animal sera induced malaria parasite crisis forms. However, human TNF and antibodies against it did not affect Plasmodium falciparum, suggesting TNF is not the malaria crisis form factor.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Parasitology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Malaria is a significant global health challenge.
- Certain factors in host sera can induce crisis forms in malaria parasites.
- Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a cytokine with diverse biological activities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in inducing malaria parasite crisis forms.
- To determine if human TNF can induce crisis forms in Plasmodium falciparum.
- To identify the malaria crisis form factor in human serum.
Main Methods:
- Treatment of mice and rabbits with Mycobacterium bovis BCG and lipopolysaccharide.
- Analysis of sera for TNF content and induction of malaria parasite crisis forms.
- In vitro culture of Plasmodium falciparum with purified or recombinant human TNF.
- Testing the effect of antibodies against human TNF on parasite inhibitory activity.
Main Results:
- Sera from BCG- and lipopolysaccharide-treated animals contained TNF and induced malaria parasite crisis forms.
- Neither purified mouse TNF nor recombinant human TNF induced crisis forms in cultured Plasmodium falciparum.
- Antibodies against human TNF did not inhibit the activity of human malaria crisis form factor serum.
Conclusions:
- TNF present in animal sera may contribute to inducing malaria parasite crisis forms.
- Human TNF is unlikely to be the primary factor responsible for inducing crisis forms in Plasmodium falciparum.
- The malaria crisis form factor in human serum is distinct from human TNF.