|
|||||
|
|
CD36 deficiency protects against malarial anaemia in children by reducing Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cell adherence to vascular endothelium |
|
| Authors: | Jaffu Chilongola Sakurani Balthazary Maximillian Mpina Martin Mhando Erasto Mbugi |
| Affiliation: | Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College, Moshi, Tanzania; Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College, Tumaini University, Moshi, Tanzania; Department of Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania; Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo Research and Training Centre, Bagamoyo, Tanzania; Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Wageningen University, Cell Biology and Immunology Group, AH Wageningen, The Netherlands |
| Abstract: | Objective CD36 is a receptor that occurs on the surface of activated immune cells, vascular endothelial cells and participates in phagocytosis and lipid metabolism. CD36 is known to be the major endothelial receptor molecule for field isolates of Plasmodium falciparum. A T1264G mutation in exon X of the gene leads to deficiency of CD36. This study aimed at determining associations between CD36 deficiency, P. falciparum in vitro adherence on purified CD36 and anaemia among children in an endemic area. Methods Genotypes were determined by nested polymerase chain reaction of isolated DNA from filter blood spots followed by Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP). Plasmodium falciparum adherence assays were performed on immobilized purified CD36. Results The data indicate that CD36 is an important cytoadherence receptor that mediates adherence to most P. falciparum field isolates. Our findings also suggest that mutations causing CD36 deficiency may confer significant protection against malarial anaemia (MA) in children (χ Conclusion That the protective role that CD36 deficiency may confer against MA in children seems to be mediated through reduced cytoadherence of infected red blood cells to vascular endothelium. |
| Keywords: | CD36 cytoadherence anaemia Plasmodium falciparum infected red blood cell |