Platelets kill intraerythrocytic malarial parasites and mediate survival to infection
Date
2009
Authors
McMorran, Brendan
Marshall, Vikki M
de Graaf, Carolyn
Drysdale, Karen
Shabbar, Meriam
Smyth, Gordon K.
Corbin, Jason E
Alexander, Warren S
Foote, Simon
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American Association for the Advancement of Science
Abstract
Platelets play a critical role in the pathogenesis of malarial infections by encouraging the sequestration of infected red blood cells within the cerebral vasculature. But platelets also have well-established roles in innate protection against microbial infections. We found that purified human platelets killed Plasmodium falciparum parasites cultured in red blood cells. Inhibition of platelet function by aspirin and other platelet inhibitors abrogated the lethal effect human platelets exert on P. falciparum parasites. Likewise, platelet-deficient and aspirin-treated mice were more susceptible to death during erythrocytic infection with Plasmodium chabaudi. Both mouse and human platelets bind malarial-infected red cells and kill the parasite within. These results indicate a protective function for platelets in the early stages of erythrocytic infection distinct from their role in cerebral malaria.
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Keywords
Keywords: acetylsalicylic acid; thrombocyte slowing factor; blood; cytology; inhibition; malaria; parasite; pathogen; survival; animal cell; animal experiment; animal model; article; cell killing; controlled study; erythrocyte; female; human; human cell; human cell
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Journal article
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Open Access
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