Multi-organ erythrocyte sequestration and ligand expression in rhesus monkeys infected with Plasmodium coatneyi malaria.

Abstract The pathogenesis of human cerebral malaria is suspected to be caused by blockage of cerebral microvessels by the sequestration of parasitized human red blood cells (PRBC). Examination of infected tissues indicate PRBC sequestration in microvessels is the result of PRBC knob attachment to endothelial cell surface cytoadherence receptors such as CD36, thrombospondin (TSP), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). In lieu of fresh human tissue, several animal models for human cerebral malaria have been developed, the Plasmodium coatneyi-infected rhesus monkey model being the most versatile. To further the understanding of noncerebral malarial complications during disease, we examined noncerebral tissues of infected rhesus monkeys. Our study demonstrated similar microvessel PRBC sequestration and the presence of cytoadherence ligands in noncerebral tissues. Immunohistochemical analysis showed CD36, TSP, and ICAM-1 cytoadherence proteins in several major organs.