Unrestricted growth of Plasmodium falciparum in microcytic erythrocytes in iron deficiency and thalassaemia

The mechanism(s) underlying the apparent resistance to malaria in certain inherited red cell disorders and iron deficiency anaemia remain poorly understood. The possibility that microcytic erythrocytes might inhibit parasite development, by physical restriction or reduced supply of nutrients, has been considered for many years, and never formally investigated. We sought to determine whether in vitro growth studies of P. falciparum could provide evidence to suggest that small red cell size contributes to malaria resistance in those red cell disorders in which microcytosis is a characteristic feature.
Invasion and development of P. falciparum in iron deficient red cells (mean values for mean cell volume MCV] 66 fl, mean cell haemoglobin MCH] 19 pg) and in the red cells of two gene deletion forms of α-thalassaemia (mean MCV 71 fl, MCH 22 pg) were normal, assessed both morphologically, and by ³H-hypoxanthine incorporation. Although parasite appearances were normal in all cell types, morphological abnormalities were noted in iron deficient and thalassaemic cells parasitized by mature stages of P. falciparum , notably cellular ballooning and extreme hypochromia of the red cell cytoplasm. Using electron microscopy, the red cell cytoplasm in parasitized thalassaemic cells showed reduced electron density and abnormal reticulation. Normal invasion rates were observed following schizogony in microcytic cells of both types.
Our findings indicate that whilst minor morphological abnormalities may be detected in parasitized iron deficiency and thalassaemic erythrocytes, development of P. falciparum in these conditions is not limited by small erythrocyte size.