Malaria pigment paralyzes dendritic cells

J Biol. 2006;5(2):4. doi: 10.1186/jbiol37. Epub 2006 Apr 12.

Abstract

The capacity of malarial infection to suppress the patient's immune responses both to the parasite and to other antigens has long puzzled researchers. A prime suspect, the parasite-produced pigment hemozoin, has now been clearly shown to mediate immunosuppression by inhibiting dendritic cell activity.

Publication types

  • Comment
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dendritic Cells / drug effects*
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Hemeproteins / metabolism
  • Hemeproteins / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Immune Tolerance / drug effects
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / metabolism
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology*
  • Malaria / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Phagocytosis / drug effects
  • Plasmodium / immunology
  • Plasmodium / metabolism*

Substances

  • Hemeproteins
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • hemozoin