Hemozoin Inhibition and Control of Clinical Malaria

Chibueze Peter Ihekwereme,Charles Okechukwu Esimone,Edward Chieke Nwanegbo

doi:10.1155/2014/984150

Chibueze Peter Ihekwereme, Charles Okechukwu Esimone + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/984150

Copy DOI

Abstract

Malaria has a negative impact on health and social and economic life of residents of endemic countries. The ultimate goals of designing new treatment for malaria are to prevent clinical infection, reduce morbidity, and decrease mortality. There are great advances in the understanding of the parasite-host interaction through studies by various scientists. In some of these studies, attempts were made to evaluate the roles of malaria pigment or toxins in the pathogenesis of malaria. Hemozoin is a key metabolite associated with severe malaria anemia (SMA), immunosuppression, and cytokine dysfunction. Targeting of this pigment may be necessary in the design of new therapeutic products against malaria. In this review, the roles of hemozoin in the morbidity and mortality of malaria are highlighted as an essential target in the quest for effective control of clinical malaria.

Highlights

Malaria has plagued humankind since ancient times and is still a significant threat to half of the world’s population [1]
The Hzmonocyte complex has been associated with severe malaria anemia (SMA) [17], immunosuppression [9, 16], and cytokine dysregulation [18,19,20]. These findings demonstrate the pathological roles of Hz during malaria parasitaemia
Recently researchers demonstrated that Hz may be an effective adjuvant for malaria vaccine [21,22,23,24,25]. This is because Hz was found to be a good ligand for Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) and induced both humoral and cellular immune responses in animals immunized with crude extract of Hz [21, 22]

Summary

Introduction

Malaria has plagued humankind since ancient times and is still a significant threat to half of the world’s population [1]. Recently researchers demonstrated that Hz may be an effective adjuvant for malaria vaccine [21,22,23,24,25] This is because Hz was found to be a good ligand for Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) and induced both humoral and cellular immune responses in animals immunized with crude extract of Hz [21, 22]. Taken together, these findings suggest that Hz may be involved in both induction of immunity against malaria and the pathogenesis of the disease. We will evaluate reported roles of this pigment in the pathogenesis of malaria and provide the rationale for its targeting in antimalaria therapeutics development

Hemozoin and Anemia

Immunosuppression

Other Harmful Effects of Hemozoin

Findings

Summary