title: Malarial pigment hemozoin and the innate inflammatory response.
abstract: Malaria is a deadly infectious disease caused by the intraerythrocytic protozoan parasite Plasmodium. The four species of Plasmodium known to affect humans all produce an inorganic crystal called hemozoin (HZ) during the heme detoxification process. HZ is released from the food vacuole into circulation during erythrocyte lysis, while the released parasites further infect additional naive red blood cells. Once in circulation, HZ is rapidly taken up by circulating monocytes and tissue macrophages, inducing the production of pro-inflammatory mediators, such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Over the last few years, it has been reported that HZ, similar to uric acid crystals, asbestos, and silica, is able to trigger IL-1β production via the activation of the NOD-like receptor containing pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome complex. Additionally, recent findings have shown that host factors, such as fibrinogen, have the ability to adhere to free HZ and modify its capacity to activate host immune cells. Although much has been discovered regarding NLRP3 inflammasome induction, the mechanism through which this intracellular multimolecular complex is activated remains unclear. In the present review, the most recent discoveries regarding the capacity of HZ to trigger this innate immune complex as well as the impact of HZ on several other inflammatory signaling pathways will be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, McGill TB International Centre, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University , Montréal, QC , Canada ; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill TB International Centre, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University , Montréal, QC , Canada.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olivier
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, McGill TB International Centre, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University , Montréal, QC , Canada ; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill TB International Centre, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University , Montréal, QC , Canada.
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Van Den Ham
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, McGill TB International Centre, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University , Montréal, QC , Canada ; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill TB International Centre, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University , Montréal, QC , Canada.
authors.forename: Marina Tiemi
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Shio
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, McGill TB International Centre, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University , Montréal, QC , Canada ; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill TB International Centre, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University , Montréal, QC , Canada.
authors.forename: Fikregabrail Aberra
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Kassa
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, McGill TB International Centre, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University , Montréal, QC , Canada ; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill TB International Centre, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University , Montréal, QC , Canada.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fougeray
keywords: hemozoin; inflammasome; macrophages; malaria; signaling