title: The role of the spleen in malaria.
abstract: The spleen is a complex organ that is perfectly adapted to selectively filtering and destroying senescent red blood cells (RBCs), infectious microorganisms and Plasmodium-parasitized RBCs. Infection by malaria is the most common cause of spleen rupture and splenomegaly, albeit variably, a landmark of malaria infection. Here, the role of the spleen in malaria is reviewed with special emphasis in lessons learned from human infections and mouse models.
authors.affiliation: Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clinic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain. hernandoa.delportillo@cresib.cat
authors.forename: Hernando A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Del Portillo
authors.forename: Mireia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferrer
authors.forename: Thibaut
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brugat
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martin-Jaular
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Langhorne
authors.forename: Marcus V G
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Lacerda
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000469:parasitology; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008288:Malaria / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D013154:Spleen / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013161:Splenic Rupture / Q000469:parasitology; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000469:parasitology