Plasmodium Falciparum Var Gene/ Important Role of the EPCR-Activated Protein C (APC) Pathway in P
Severe adult malaria is associated with specific PNAS PLUS PfEMP1 adhesion types and high parasite biomass Maria Bernabeua, Samuel A. Danzigera, Marion Avrila, Marina Vazb, Prasad H. Babarc,d, Andrew J. Braziera, Thurston Herricksc,d, Jennifer N. Makic,d, Ligia Pereirac,d, Anjali Mascarenhasc,d, Edwin Gomesb, Laura Cheryc,d, John D. Aitchisona, Pradipsinh K. Rathodc,d, and Joseph D. Smitha,1 aCenter for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, WA 98109; bDepartment of Medicine, Goa Medical College & Hospital, Bambolim, Goa 403202, India; cDepartment of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195; and dDepartment of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 Edited by Mats Wahlgren, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, and accepted by the Editorial Board April 7, 2016 (received for review December 10, 2015) The interplay between cellular and molecular determinants that This subset of PfEMP1s includes mediators of distinct infected lead to severe malaria in adults is unexplored. Here, we analyzed erythrocyte adhesion categories, including “rosetting” and endo- parasite virulence factors in an infected adult population in India thelial protein C receptor (EPCR) binding. Rosetting involves ad- and investigated whether severe malaria isolates impair endothe- hesion to uninfected red blood cells (20, 21), possibly leading to lial protein C receptor (EPCR), a protein involved in coagulation greater microvascular obstruction (22). EPCR binding involves in- and endothelial barrier permeability. Severe malaria isolates overex- fected erythrocyte adhesion to vascular endothelial cells (23). The pressed specific members of the Plasmodium falciparum var gene/ important role of the EPCR-activated protein C (APC) pathway in P. falciparum PfEMP1 ( erythrocyte membrane protein 1) family that regulating coagulation, inflammation, and endothelial barrier prop- var bind EPCR, including DC8 genes that have previously been linked erties (24) has led to the hypothesis that EPCR-binding parasites to severe pediatric malaria.
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