Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0024530 (malaria)
 44,886 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

During Plasmodium falciparum infection leading to cerebral malaria, mechanisms such as cytokine generation and cytoadherence of parasitized red blood cells (PRBC) to post-capillary venules are clearly involved. We demonstrated that PRBC adhesion to human lung endothelial cells (HLEC) upregulated TNF-alpha superfamily genes and genes related to apoptosis and inflammation. Apoptosis was confirmed by standard techniques (annexin-V binding, genomic DNA fragmentation, and caspases activation). This apoptotic process involved the cytoplasmic pathway from a death receptor (DR-6, Fas, TNF-R1) through caspase 8, and the mitochondrial pathway though Bad and caspase 9 activation. Oxidative stress has been implicated in apoptosis induction in various pathological models. Superoxide anion (O(2)*(-)) is a key molecule in the oxidative stress pathway which can form peroxynitrites (ONOO(-)) in association with nitric oxide (NO*). Even though the role of NO* in malaria physiopathology is still a matter of controversy, we demonstrated that PRBC-induced apoptosis in endothelial cells is mediated through an oxidative stress pathway. The inhibition of NO* synthesis protected the endothelial cells suggesting a deleterious role for NO*. In addition, the superoxide dismutase mimetic, MnTBAP, also protected the HLEC against PRBC-induced apoptosis, revealing the role of O(2)*(-) and ONOO(-).
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PMID:Redox-dependent apoptosis in human endothelial cells after adhesion of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes. 1503 96

Parasitic protozoa cause several diseases, affecting hundreds of millions, particularly in underdeveloped countries. Although these organisms are eukaryotic cells, some of them present major differences with their mammalian host in selected metabolic pathways. These differences may be exploited as targets for developing better pharmacological agents for the treatment of specific parasitic diseases. This review describes some of the differences in terms of antioxidant defenses between these organisms and their mammalian host, which may provide useful targets for the treatment of these diseases. Some of the potential targets are: (i). iron metabolism in Plasmodium, (ii). the presence of a Fe-containing form of superoxide dismutase in trypanosomatids and malaria-causing parasites, (iii). the unique trypanothione-dependent antioxidant metabolism in trypanosomatids, (iv). the ascorbate peroxidase found in Trypanosoma cruzi and perhaps present in other trypanosomatids.
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PMID:Oxidative stress and antioxidant defenses: a target for the treatment of diseases caused by parasitic protozoa. 1505 29

Many lines of evidence reveal that artemisinin, an antimalarial containing endoperoxide, generates free radicals to kill malaria parasites. The present study re-evaluated the antioxidants of P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes in the absence and presence of 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 ng/ml of dihydroartemisinin (DHA), the active metabolite of artemisinin. The ratio of reduced to oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were determined. The data indicated that malaria infection induced oxidative stress in erythrocytes that resulted in a significant lower GSH in parasitized cells compared to the non-parasitized. DHA showed no effect on the antioxidant levels of non-parasitized erythrocytes treated under similar conditions as P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes. However, significantly lower GSH as well as catalase and GPx activities in parasitized cells were seen at drug concentrations of 0.5 and 1.0 ng/ml (p < 0.05). GSH is the most sensitive indicator of oxidative stress in malaria-infected erythrocytes both in the absence and in the presence of DHA. Parasite GPx might play a more important role than catalase in the elimination of peroxide. Parasite viabilities in the presence of DHA were analyzed simultaneously and were affected to a greater extent than the antioxidant levels. The present observation showed that although DHA killed malaria parasites by generating free radicals from the endoperoxide bridge causing the reduction of antioxidants, but the depletion of parasite antioxidants is not a prerequisite for the parasite death.
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PMID:Effect of dihydroartemisinin on the antioxidant capacity of P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes. 1511 82

Chemokine production has been associated with the immunopathology related to malaria. Previous findings indicated that hemozoin (HZ), a parasite metabolite released during schizogeny, might be an important source of these proinflammatory mediators. In this study we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying HZ-inducible macrophage (Mphi) chemokine mRNA expression. We found that both Plasmodium falciparum HZ and synthetic HZ increase mRNA levels of various chemokine transcripts (MIP-1alpha/CCL3, MIP-1beta/CCL4, MIP-2/CXCL2, and MCP-1/CCL2) in murine B10R Mphi. The cellular response to HZ involved ERK1/2 phosphorylation, NF-kappaB activation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and ROS-dependent protein-tyrosine phosphatase down-regulation. Selective inhibition of either IkappaBalpha or the ERK1/2 pathway abolished both NF-kappaB activation and chemokine up-regulation. Similarly, blockage of HZ-inducible Mphi ROS with superoxide dismutase suppressed chemokine induction, strongly reduced NF-kappaB activation, and restored HZ-mediated Mphi protein-tyrosine phosphatase inactivation. In contrast, superoxide dismutase had no effect on EKR1/2 phosphorylation by HZ. Collectively, these data indicate that HZ triggers ROS-dependent and -independent signals, leading to increased chemokine mRNA expression in Mphi. Overall, our findings may help to better understand the molecular mechanisms through which parasite components, such as HZ, modulate the immune response during malaria infection.
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PMID:Hemozoin induces macrophage chemokine expression through oxidative stress-dependent and -independent mechanisms. 1561 Dec 73

Serum copper concentration was measured in 80 adult patients (40 males and females each; age range: 18-40 yr) presenting with acute, uncomplicated falciparum malaria infection and a control group of 20 age-matched, healthy individuals. The mean serum copper concentration was 109.0 +/- 40.0 microg/dL in healthy individuals. Both male and female patients were found to have a significantly decreased serum copper concentration (p < 0.05). In the male patients, the mean serum copper concentration decreased by 33.95%, whereas it dropped by 38.53% in their female counterparts. A compromised enzymatic antioxidant defense capability, particularly superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, has been reported in patients with falciparum malaria infection. Because SOD activity is dependent on copper, the ineffective SOD activity can be related to the decrease in the concentration of copper during the infection. Low serum copper can also contribute to the ineffective immune response of the host to the antigenic challenge of the falciparum parasite because copper is also important for normal immune function.
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PMID:Serum copper concentration in adults with acute, uncomplicated falciparum malaria infection. 1719 15

Artemether, artemether-lumefantrine, or coartem and halofantrine are alternative antimalarial drugs to chloroquine. Their efficacy and potential to delay drug resistance in falciparum malaria had led to their increased use. Although these drugs have proven to be well tolerated, there are adverse effects associated with them. This study was designed to examine the toxic potential of acute administration of these drugs in rats. Twenty-four rats were divided into four groups: group I (control) received distilled water; group II received artemether for 5 days with an initial dose of 3.2 g/kg body weight on day 1 and 1.6 mg/kg body weight on days 2-5; group III received coartem (27 mg/kg body weight/day) for 3 days, which was divided into two equal portions per day; and group IV received halofantrine (24 mg/kg body weight/day) in three equal portions. Administration of artemether, coartem and halofantrine caused significant decrease (P < 0.05) in reduced glutathione levels in the liver by 29%, 21% and 26%, respectively. In contrast, there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in the kidney glutathione levels. Furthermore, artemether, coartem and halofantrine decreased the liver- and kidney-enzymatic antioxidant status of the animals. Precisely, artemether, coartem and halofantrine decreased liver superoxide dismutase and catalase activities by 45%, 50% and 57%; and 20%, 29% and 23%, respectively. While the kidney catalase activities were decreased by 41%, 28% and 30%, respectively, the drugs however did not produce significant effect (P > 0.05) on the kidney superoxide dismutase activities. In addition, artemether, coartem and halofantrine decreased the hepatic levels of glutathione S-transferase by 64%, 51% and 53%, respectively. Administration of artemether, coartem and halofantrine significantly increased (P < 0.05) liver and kidney lipid peroxidation levels by 67%, 50% and 81%; and 58%, 43% and 31%, respectively. This indicates that the liver is considerably more affected than the kidneys. Similarly, halofantrine treatment caused significant elevation (P < 0.05) in the levels of serum creatinine, aspartate and alanine aminotransferases and blood urea nitrogen by 73%, 66%, 61% and 63%, respectively. These data indicate that oral administration of artemether, coartem and halofantrine has adverse effects on both enzymic and non-enzymatic antioxidant status of the animals.
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PMID:Changes in antioxidant status and biochemical indices after acute administration of artemether, artemether-lumefantrine and halofantrine in rats. 1828 95

Dapsone (DDS) is currently used in the treatment of leprosy, malaria and in infections with Pneumocystis jirovecii and Toxoplasma gondii in AIDS patients. Adverse effects of DDS involve methemoglobinemia and hemolysis and, to a lower extent, liver damage, though the mechanism is poorly characterized. We evaluated the effect of DDS administration to male and female rats (30 mg/kg body wt, twice a day, for 4 days) on liver oxidative stress through assessment of biliary output and liver content of reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione, lipid peroxidation, and expression/activities of the main antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione S-transferase. The influence of DDS treatment on expression/activity of the main DDS phase-II-metabolizing system, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT), was additionally evaluated. The involvement of dapsone hydroxylamine (DDS-NHOH) generation in these processes was estimated by comparing the data in male and female rats since N-hydroxylation of DDS mainly occurs in males. Our studies revealed an increase in the GSSG/GSH biliary output ratio, a sensitive indicator of oxidative stress, and in lipid peroxidation, in male but not in female rats treated with DDS. The activity of all antioxidant enzymes was significantly impaired by DDS treatment also in male rats, whereas UGT activity was not affected in any sex. Taken together, the evidence indicates that DDS induces oxidative stress in rat liver and that N-hydroxylation of DDS was the likely mediator. Impairment in the activity of enzymatic antioxidant systems, also associated with DDS-NHOH formation, constituted a key aggravating factor.
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PMID:Dapsone induces oxidative stress and impairs antioxidant defenses in rat liver. 1860 5

The bisquinoline drug dequalinium (DQ) has demonstrated remarkable activity against some infection diseases, including malaria. Oxidative stress represents a biochemical target for potential antimalarials. In this work, we have tested the ability of this compound to modify the oxidative status in Plasmodium berghei-infected erythrocytes. After hemolysis, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione cycle, and dehydrogenase enzymes were investigated. The activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGLD) in infected cells were diminished by this drug compared to controls (300% and 80% approximately, respectively), while glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione transferase (GST), and glutathione levels were also lowered. As a compensatory response, we could appreciate an increase of SOD activity (20% approximately) in infected cells treated with DQ; however, catalase was not affected by the compound. Lipid peroxidation was also decreased by this drug, protecting the cells from the hemolysis caused by the infection. In conclusion, oxidative stress represents a biochemical event which is modulated by DQ, interfering with the antioxidant regular activities in P. berghei infection.
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PMID:Effect of dequalinium on the oxidative stress in Plasmodium berghei-infected erythrocytes. 1920 39

E-2-chloro-8-methyl-3-[(4'-methoxy-1'-indanoyl)-2'-methyliden]-quinoline (IQ) is a new quinoline derivative which has been reported as a haemoglobin degradation and ss-haematin formation inhibitor. The haemoglobin proteolysis induced by Plasmodium parasites represents a source of amino acids and haeme, leading to oxidative stress in infected cells. In this paper, we evaluated oxidative status in Plasmodium berghei-infected erythrocytes in the presence of IQ using chloroquine (CQ) as a control. After haemolysis, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione cycle and NADPH + H+-dependent dehydrogenase enzyme activities were investigated. Lipid peroxidation was also assayed to evaluate lipid damage. The results showed that the overall activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase were significantly diminished by IQ (by 53.5% and 100%, respectively). Glutathione peroxidase activity was also lowered (31%) in conjunction with a higher GSSG/GSH ratio. As a compensatory response, overall SOD activity increased and lipid peroxidation decreased, protecting the cells from the haemolysis caused by the infection. CQ shared most of the effects showed by IQ; however it was able to inhibit the activity of isocitrate dehydrogenase and glutathione-S-transferase. In conclusion, IQ could be a candidate for further studies in malaria research interfering with the oxidative status in Plasmodium berghei infection.
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PMID:Modification of oxidative status in Plasmodium berghei-infected erythrocytes by E-2-chloro-8-methyl-3-[(4'-methoxy-1'-indanoyl)-2'-methyliden]-quinoline compared to chloroquine. 1987 58

Pyrimethamine is an antimalarial drug that has also been used successfully to treat autoimmune diseases such as lymphoproliferative syndrome. In this work, the effect of pyrimethamine (PYR) on the production of free radicals in malaria-infected mice was studied to better understand the drug's immunomodulatory properties. BALB/c and CBA/Ca mice were infected with Plasmodium yoelii 17XL. Seven days after infection, mice were treated with PYR or vehicle and sacrificed 24h later. Treatment with PYR increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in erythrocytes and the liver, augmented the levels of nitric oxide in the serum, and upregulated mRNA levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and iNOS in the spleen. In addition, PYR increased lipoperoxidation and protein carbonylation in infected mice. Our results indicate that P. yoelii 17XL reduces oxidative stress in infected cells, while PYR induces it, which is associated with increased parasite elimination. Thus, it is possible that oxidative stress generated by pyrimethamine is also involved in its immunomodulatory mechanism of action.
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PMID:Pyrimethamine induces oxidative stress in Plasmodium yoelii 17XL-infected mice: a novel immunomodulatory mechanism of action for an old antimalarial drug? 2019 82


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