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Flow cytometric assessment of oxidant stress in age-fractionated thalassaemic trait erythrocytes and its relationship to in vitro growth of Plasmodium falciparum

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 1998

A. C. SENOK
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin NT, Hong Kong
K. LI
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin NT, Hong Kong
E. A. S. NELSON
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin NT, Hong Kong
M. ARUMANAYAGAM
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin NT, Hong Kong
C. K. LI
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin NT, Hong Kong

Abstract

The role of oxidant stress in mediating the protection against malaria in thalassaemic red blood cells (RBC) has been hypothesized. In this study we have assessed the relationship between oxidant stress, red cell age and malarial parasite activity in thalassaemic RBC. Using a flow cytometric method to assess lipid peroxidation, we have shown that the age-related increase in sensitivity to oxidative stress previously demonstrated in normal RBC also occurs in thalassaemic RBC. Invasion and growth of Plasmodium falciparum was also shown to deteriorate with increasing RBC age. This effect was more pronounced in thalassaemic RBC with associated schizont maturation arrest and abnormal parasite morphology. In addition, there was a slight but consistent inverse correlation between sensitivity to oxidant stress and parasite activity (R=−0·43; P=0·03 for normal RBC and R=−0·42; P=0·01 for thalassaemic RBC). Our findings indicate an association between red cell age, oxidant stress and P. falciparum growth, providing further support for the role of oxidant stress in mediating the protective effect against malaria in thalassaemic RBC.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
1998 Cambridge University Press

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