Erythrocyte sialoglycoproteins and Plasmodium falciparum invasion

Human erythrocytes with a deficiency in glycophorin A (En(a-) cells) and glycophorin B (S-s-U- and S-s-U+ cells) show significant resistance in vitro to invasion by Plasmodium falciparum merozoites. Treatment of normal erythrocytes with trypsin and chymotrypsin also reduced invasion. Trypsinization of S-s- and En(a-) red cells, a process which removes the T1 peptide of glycophorins A and C, produced cells almost refractory to invasion. The human K562 erythroleukaemia cell line, which also expresses glycophorin A, was not invaded and possible explanations for this result are discussed. It is suggested that determinants carried on the red cell sialoglycoproteins (glycophorins A, B and C), in particular the T1 peptide of glycophorins A and C, play an essential role in attachment and invasion by P. falciparum merozoites. The oligosaccharide components found on this peptide may play a role in the initial binding between red cell and merozoites.