Role of Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF) and Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) as Important Mediators in the Pathogenesis of Malaria Infection

N. N. Nwobodo¹*, P. O. Okonkwo² and S. A. Igwe¹

¹Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu Nigeria.

²Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Nigeria.

ABSTRACT: It has been shown from circumstantial and direct evidence that excess production of Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF) in response to parasite toxins contribute to severe pathology and death in malaria infection. A study demonstrated that glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) moieties covalently linked to the surface antigens of malaria parasites have the properties of such toxins, as the highly purified GPIs free of associated proteins are able to induce high levels of TNF and IL-1 from macrophages to cause pyrexia and cachexia in vivo. The GPI molecules linked to surface antigens of the parasite glycolipid toxins elicit several pathophysiological responses associated with acute severe malaria. This paper aims to review the effects of GPIs and TNF as mediators of pro-inflammatory and immunological mechanisms in the pathogenesis of malaria.

KEYWORDS: Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI); Malaria Infection; Mediators; Pathogenesis

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