The malarial metabolite hemozoin and its potential use as a vaccine adjuvant.
Hemozoin, a bio-crystalline substance, is a hemin detoxification by-product of malaria parasites. The role of hemozoin crystals in host immune system modulation by malaria parasites, and how they interact with the immune system has been enigmatic. Here, we summarize recent progress in our understanding of how hemozoin might be interacting with the host immune system. In particular, the potential application of hemozoin crystals as an adjuvant may provide insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in immune responses to malarial infection and provide a rationale for the design of vaccines against malaria as well as other immunological disorders such as allergies.
Coban
Cevayir
C
Laboratory of Host Defense, Immunology Frontier Research Center, World Premier Institute for Immunology, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan. ccoban@biken.osaka-u.ac.jp
Yagi
Masanori
M
Ohata
Keiichi
K
Igari
Yoshikatsu
Y
Tsukui
Toshihiro
T
Horii
Toshihiro
T
Ishii
Ken J
KJ
Akira
Shizuo
S
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006420:Hemeproteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D017780:Malaria Vaccines; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000276:immunology*; D051192:Receptors, Pattern Recognition / Q000276:immunology
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000962:Antimalarials; D006420:Hemeproteins; D017780:Malaria Vaccines; D051192:Receptors, Pattern Recognition; C020753:hemozoin