The role of spleen macrophages in malaria: an ultrastructural study

Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical

Ruiz, Greta¹  Tosta, Carlos Eduardo¹  Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil¹  Wedderburn, Nina¹ 

关键词: Malaria;    Plasmodium berghei;    BALB/c mice;    Spleen;    Macrophages;    Phagocytosis;    Cytotoxicity;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0037-86821984000100007

学科分类：农业科学（综合）

来源: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical

【 摘 要 】

An electronmicroscopy study of the spleen from mice infected with Plasmodium berghei was carried out to investigate the types ofcells in volved in the removal of parasites from the blood, and the mechanisms by which this occurs. Macrophages, particularly from the red pulp and the marginal zone of the spleen, constituted the most important population of phagocytic cells in the spleen. At the height ofparasitaemia, macrophages in the periphery of the white pulp, especially in the mantle zone of secondary follicles, were also found to participate in phagocytosis, although to a limited extent. Our fingings suggest that phagocytosis of free parasites or parasitized erythrocytes in the spleen is an important mechanism of clearance of parasites from the circulation. Parasites removed from the erythrocytes when these cells cross the interendothelial slits are further phagocytosed by neighbouring macrophages. Evidence is presented suggesting that spleen macrophages may act against the parasite through a process of cytotoxicity.

【 授权许可】

Unknown