Malaria pigment paralyzes dendritic cells

Purified malaria pigment (hemozoin) enhances dendritic cell maturation and modulates the isotype of antibodies induced by a DNA vaccine.

Hemozoin (malaria pigment) has been implicated in the modulation of immune responses during malaria infection. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of purified hemozoin on the in vitro activation of myeloid dendritic cells. Our study also revealed that in addition to enhancing the maturation of dendritic cells, hemozoin also greatly promotes immunoglobulin G2a antibody responses when ...

Hemozoin Enhances Maturation of Murine Bone Marrow Derived Macrophages and Myeloid Dendritic Cells

Background: Falciparum malaria is a severe health burden worldwide. Antigen presenting cells are reported to be affected by erythrocytic stage of the parasite. Malarial hemozoin (HZ), a metabolite of malaria parasite, has adjuvant properties and may play a role in the induction of immune response against the parasite. Objective: To determine the immunological impact of hemozoin on the capacity ...

Malaria Impairs T Cell Clustering and Immune Priming despite Normal Signal 1 from Dendritic Cells

Interactions between antigen-presenting dendritic cells (DCs) and T cells are essential for the induction of an immune response. However, during malaria infection, DC function is compromised and immune responses against parasite and heterologous antigens are reduced. Here, we demonstrate that malaria infection or the parasite pigment hemozoin inhibits T cell and DC interactions both in vitro an...

Induced by a DNA Vaccine Modulates the Isotype of Antibodies Enhances Dendritic Cell Maturation and Purified Malaria Pigment (Hemozoin)

Dendritic cells derived from hemozoin-loaded monocytes display a partial maturation phenotype that promotes HIV-1 trans-infection of CD4+ T cells and virus replication.

Coinfection of HIV-1 patients with Plasmodium falciparum, the etiological agent of malaria, results in a raise of viral load and an acceleration of disease progression. The primary objective of this study was to investigate whether the malarial pigment hemozoin (HZ), a heme by-product of hemoglobin digestion by malaria parasites, can affect HIV-1 transmission by monocytes-derived dendritic cell...