A semi-synthetic glycosaminoglycan analogue inhibits and reverses Plasmodium falciparum cytoadherence

作者：Skidmore Mark A; Mustaffa Khairul Mohd Fadzli; Cooper Lynsay C; Guimond Scott E; Yates Edwin A^*; Craig Alister G^*

来源：PLos One, 2017, 12(10): e0186276.

DOI：10.1371/journal.pone.0186276

A feature of mature Plasmodium falciparum parasitized red blood cells is their ability to bind surface molecules of the microvascular endothelium via the parasite-derived surface protein Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1). This ligand is associated with the cytoadherence pathology observed in severe malaria. As pRBC treated with effective anti-malarial drugs are still able to cytoadhere, there is therefore a need to find an adjunct treatment that can inhibit and reverse the adhesion process. One semi-synthetic, sulfated polysaccharide has been identified that is capable of inhibiting and reversing sequestration of pRBC on endothelial cells in vitro under physiological flow conditions. Furthermore, it exhibits low toxicity in the intrinsic (APTT assay) and extrinsic (PT assay) clotting pathways, as well as exhibiting minimal effects on cell (HUVEC) viability (MTT proliferation assay). These findings suggest that carbohydrate-based anti-adhesive candidates may provide potential leads for therapeutics for severe malaria.

• 出版日期2017-10-18