Falciparum malaria-infected erythrocytes specifically bind to cultured human endothelial cells.
Erythrocytes infected with the late stages of the human malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum became attached to a subpopulation of cultured human endothelial cells by knoblike protrusions on the surface of the infected erythrocytes. Infected erythrocytes did not bind to cultured fibroblasts; uninfected erythrocytes did not bind to either endothelial cells or fibroblasts. The results suggest a specific receptor-ligand interaction between endothelial cells and a component, components, in the knobs of the infected erythrocytes.
D000818:Animals; D001029:Aotus trivirgatus; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004727:Endothelium / Q000382:microbiology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014471:Umbilical Veins