Malaria tolerance--for whom the cell tolls?
How is it that individuals exposed to intense malaria transmission can tolerate the presence of malaria parasites in their blood at levels that would produce fever in others? In light of evidence discounting a role for nitric oxide or antibodies to plasmodial glycosylphosphatidylinositols in maintaining this tolerant state, refractoriness to toxin-induced Toll-like receptor-mediated signalling has emerged as a likely explanation that links malarial and bacterial endotoxin tolerance. Understanding the mechanisms underlying tolerance and the potential for cross-tolerization has significant implications for understanding the potential for antitoxic vaccine strategies, as well as interactions between different malaria species and between malaria and other human parasites.
Boutlis
Craig S
CS
Division of Tropical and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, PO Box 41096, Casuarina, NT 0811, Australia. craig.boutlis@menzies.edu.au
Yeo
Tsin W
TW
Anstey
Nicholas M
NM
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008288:Malaria / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D013045:Species Specificity; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D009569:Nitric Oxide