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)

Malaria-infected red blood cells are under a substantial oxidative stress. Glutathione metabolism may play an important role in antioxidant defense in these cells, as it does in other eukaryotes. In this work, we have determined the levels of reduced and oxidized glutathione (GSH and GSSG, respectively) and their distributions in the parasite, and in the host-cell compartments of human erythrocytes infected with the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. In intact trophozoite-infected erythrocytes, [GSH] is low and [GSSG] is high, compared with the levels in normal erythrocytes. Normal erythrocytes and the parasite compartment display high GSH/GSSG ratios of 321.6 and 284.5, respectively, indicating adequate antioxidant defense. This ratio drops to 26.7 in the host-cell compartment, indicating a forceful oxidant challenge, the low ratios resulting from an increase in GSSG and a decline in GSH concentrations. On the other hand, the concentrations of GSH and GSSG in the parasite compartment remain physiological and comparable to their concentrations in normal red blood cells. This results from de novo glutathione synthesis and its recycling, assisted by the intensive activity of the hexose monophosphate shunt in the parasite. A large efflux of GSSG from infected cells has been observed, its rate being similar from free parasites and from intact infected cells. This result suggests that de novo synthesis by the parasite is the dominating process in infected cells. GSSG efflux from the intact infected cell is more than 60-fold higher than the rate observed in normal erythrocytes, and is mediated by permeability pathways that the parasite induces in the erythrocyte's membrane. The main route for GSSG efflux through the cytoplasmic membrane of the parasite seems to be due to a specific transport system and occurs against a concentration gradient. Gamma-glutamylcysteine [Glu(-Cys)] and GSH can penetrate through the pathways from the extracellular space into the host cytosol, but not into that of the parasite. This implies that the parasite membrane is impermeable to these peptides, and that the host cannot supply GSH to the parasite as suggested previously. Exogenous Glu(-Cys) is not converted into GSH in the host cell, arguing that GSH synthetase may not be functional. Compartment analysis of Mg2+ in infected erythrocytes revealed that the host compartment exhibits a low concentration of Mg2+ (0.5 mM) in comparison with the parasite compartment (4 mM) and the normal erythrocytes (1.5-3 mM). The drop in [Mg2+] results in cessation of Glu(-Cys) synthesis, and hence of GSH synthesis in the host-cell compartment. The decrease in [Mg2+] can affect other Mg2+-ATP-dependent functions, such as Na+ and Ca2+ active efflux. The present investigation confirms that the host-cell compartment is oxidatively distressed, whereas the parasite is efficiently equipped with anti-oxidant means that protect the parasite from the oxidative injury. The parasite has a huge capacity for de novo synthesis of GSH and for the reduction of GSSG. Part of the GSSG that is actively extruded from the parasite is reduced to GSH in the host cell whose own GSH synthesis is crippled.
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PMID:The malaria parasite supplies glutathione to its host cell--investigation of glutathione transport and metabolism in human erythrocytes infected with Plasmodium falciparum. 946 Dec 89

Riboflavin deficiency interferes with the growth and multiplication of malaria parasites as well as the host response to malaria. The objective of the present work was to determine the effects of riboflavin deficiency on erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.9; GPx) and superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1; SOD) in rats infected with Plasmodium berghei malaria. Riboflavin in its co-enzyme form, FAD, is required by glutathione reductase (EC 1.6.4.1) to regenerate GSH and GSH is an important cellular antioxidant both in its own right and also as a substrate for the enzyme GPx. Weanling rats were deprived of riboflavin for 8 weeks before intraperitoneal injection of 1 x 10(6) P. berghei parasites. Control animals were weight-matched to the respective riboflavin-deficient group. At 10 d post-infection, parasite counts were higher in the weight-matched control group than the riboflavin-deficient group (P = 0.004). GPx activity was higher in erythrocytes of rats parasitized with P. berghei than comparable non-infected rats regardless of riboflavin status (P < 0.05). As mature erythrocytes do not synthesize new protein, the higher GPx activities were probably due to the presence of the parasite protein. In erythrocytes from riboflavin-deficient rats, GPx activity tended to be lower than in those rats fed on diets adequate in riboflavin (weight-matched controls) whether parasitized or not, but the difference was not significant. Neither riboflavin deficiency nor malaria had any effect on erythrocyte SOD activity. It was concluded that riboflavin deficiency has no marked effect on erythrocyte GPx or SOD activity in the rat.
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PMID:Glutathione peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.9) and superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1) activities in riboflavin-deficient rats infected with Plasmodium berghei malaria. 957 9

A study to investigate the association between blood glutathione (GSH) levels and biliary excretory status was conducted in apparently healthy Ghanaian subjects without frank biliary disease and anaemia. The results showed that, in adults (mean age: 38.5 years) and children (mean age: 13.0 years), plasma conjugated bilirubin is inversely correlated with blood GS (respective site r = -0.524, p < 0.011 and -0.395, p < 0.005). Persons with elevated plasma conjugated bilirubin compared to controls (mean: 6.0 versus 2.5 umol/L, p < 0.001) also exhibited low blood GSH values (3.5 versus 4.2 umol/gHb, p < 0.029). Malaria parasites with counts up to 2,453 parasites/ul blood had no effect on the obtained data. The results suggest that low blood GSH levels may be relevant to delays in biliary excretion of conjugated toxins from the liver, as exemplified by the rise in conjugated bilirubin levels in the plasma, and predispose liver cells to increased oxidant state and damage.
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PMID:Biliary excretion in persons with low blood glutathione levels. 974 34

Reactive oxygen species are important mediators of tissue injury during malaria infection. The status of hepatic oxidative stress and antioxidant defence indices were studied during Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis (P. y. nigeriensis) infection and chloroquine/ polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid stabilized with polylysine and carboxymethylcellulose (poly ICLC) treatment of infected mice. P. y. nigeriensis infection resulted in a significant increase in oxidative stress indices viz., xanthine oxidase and rate of lipid peroxidation (LPO). This was accompanied by a highly significant increase in antioxidant defence indices viz., reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione reductase while superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase showed a highly significant decrease with respect to normal mice. Chloroquine treatment of infected mice caused a decrease in parasitaemia which was associated with restoration of indices altered during infection towards normalization. Poly ICLC treatment of infected mice caused no change in blood parasitaemia but resulted in a significant increase in GSH, glutathione reductase, SOD and catalase with respect to infected mice. Combination therapy of chloroquine and poly ICLC resulted in clearance of parasitaemia and restoration of all oxidative stress and antioxidant defence indices to normal levels.
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PMID:Studies on hepatic oxidative stress and antioxidant defence system during chloroquine/poly ICLC treatment of Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis infected mice. 1039 Nov 38

Reactive Oxygen species play an important role in pathology during malaria infection. The status of hepatic oxidative stress and antioxidant defence indices was studied during Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis (P. y. nigeriensis) infection in mice and arteether treatment of P. y. nigeriensis infected mice. P. y. nigeriensis infection caused a significant increase in hepatic xanthine oxidase, rate of lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione reductase with progressive rise in parasitemia. This was accompanied by a significant decrease in hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase with increase in parasitemia. Arteether treatment (10 mg/kg body weight of mice) of infected mice from day 2 of post infection resulted in complete clearance of parasitemia on day 4 of post infection which was accompanied by restoration of all the oxidative stress and antioxidant defence indices to normal levels.
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PMID:Studies on hepatic oxidative stress and antioxidant defence systems during arteether treatment of Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis infected mice. 1044 17

To assess the extent of oxidative stress in erythrocytes of patients with acute Plasmodium falciparum malaria, erythrocyte thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (ETBAR), and intracellular, membrane and extracellular antioxidants were estimated in 102 cases of P. falciparum malaria and 50 control subjects. The mean concentration of ETBAR was significantly higher (P < 0.001) and many of the antioxidants were significantly lower in patients than controls. Among the erythrocyte antioxidants, catalase, reduced glutathione (GSH) and tocopherol were significantly lower in the patients (P < 0.05, 0.001, 0.001, respectively). Erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were not reduced to a statistically significant level. Similarly, the plasma antioxidants ascorbate and albumin were significantly lower (P < 0.001) but not urate. ETBAR correlated inversely with erythrocyte GSH and tocopherol (P < 0.001), and plasma ascorbate and albumin (P < 0.001) but not with the erythrocyte enzymic antioxidants. However, on multiple regression analysis only tocopherol correlated strongly with ETBAR, followed by GSH and plasma ascorbate. ETBAR also correlated well with haemolytic indices such as haemoglobin, plasma unconjugated bilirubin and haptoglobin concentrations (P < 0.001, for all). On follow-up after 2 weeks, ETBAR and different antioxidants reached near control levels. These observations indicate an enhanced oxidative stress on erythrocytes in acute falciparum malaria that may contribute substantially to haemolysis and anaemia.
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PMID:Evidence for erythrocyte lipid peroxidation in acute falciparum malaria. 1049 92

During the erythrocytic cycle, Plasmodium falciparum is highly dependent on an adequate thiol status for its survival. Glutathione reductase as well as de novo synthesis of GSH are responsible for the maintenance of the intracellular GSH level. The first and rate-limiting step of the synthetic pathway is catalysed by gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-GCS). Using L-buthionine-(S, R)-sulphoximine (BSO), a specific inhibitor of the gamma-GCS, we show that the infection with P. falciparum causes drastic changes in the GSH metabolism of red blood cells (RBCs). Infected RBCs lose GSH at a rate 40-fold higher than non-infected RBCs. The de novo synthesis of the tripeptide was found to be essential for parasite survival. GSH depletion by BSO inhibits the development of P. falciparum with an IC(50) of 73 microM. The effect of the drug is abolished by supplementation with GSH or GSH monoethyl ester. Our studies demonstrate that the plasmodicidal effect of the inhibitor BSO does not depend on its specificity towards its target enzyme in the parasite, but on the changed physiological needs for the metabolite GSH in the P. falciparum-infected RBCs. Therefore the depletion of GSH is proposed as a chemotherapeutic strategy for malaria, and gamma-GCS is proposed as a potential drug target.
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PMID:Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells depend on a functional glutathione de novo synthesis attributable to an enhanced loss of glutathione. 1067 77

Experiments in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficient erythrocytes parasitized by Plasmodium falciparum proved that depletion of glutathione increased fluxes of reactive oxygen species and was detrimental to the parasite at various sites and developmental stages. Chloroquine is also considered an inducer of oxidant damage due to its role in preventing heme polymerization. Recently it has been found that GSH prevents cellular damage by degrading the toxic heme. Consequently, we suggest that the use of combinations of chloroquine and depletors of GSH would be highly efficient for the chemotherapy of malaria.
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PMID:Redox metabolism in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient erythrocytes and its relation to antimalarial chemotherapy. 1069 73

A putative glutathione peroxidase gene (Swiss-Prot accession number Z 68200) of Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of tropical malaria, was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to electrophoretic homogeneity. Like phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase of mammals, it proved to be monomeric. It was active with H(2)O(2) and organic hydroperoxides but, unlike phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase, not with phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide. With glutathione peroxidases it shares the ping-pong mechanism with infinite V(max) and K(m) when analyzed with GSH as substrate. As a homologue with selenocysteine replaced by cysteine, its reactions with hydroperoxides and GSH are 3 orders of magnitude slower than those of the selenoperoxidases. Unexpectedly, the plasmodial enzyme proved to react faster with thioredoxins than with GSH and most efficiently with thioredoxin of P. falciparum (Swiss-Prot accession number 202664). It is therefore reclassified as thioredoxin peroxidase. With plasmodial thioredoxin, the enzyme also displays ping-pong kinetics, yet with a limiting K(m) of 10 microm and a k(1)' of 0.55 s(-)1. The apparent k(1)' for oxidation with cumene, t-butyl, and hydrogen peroxides are 2.0 x 10(4) m(-1) s(-1), 3.3 x 10(3) m(-1) s(-1), and 2.5 x 10(3) m (-1) s(-1), respectively. k(2)' for reduction by autologous thioredoxin is 5.4 x 10(4) m(-1) s(-1) (21.2 m(-1) s(-1) for GSH). The newly discovered enzymatic function of the plasmodial gene product suggests a reconsideration of its presumed role in parasitic antioxidant defense.
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PMID:The putative glutathione peroxidase gene of Plasmodium falciparum codes for a thioredoxin peroxidase. 1108 48

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) belong to a family of detoxification enzymes that conjugate glutathione to various xenobiotics, thus facilitating their expulsion from the cell. GST activity is elevated in many insecticide-resistant insects, including the DDT-resistant malaria vector Anopheles gambiae. Crystals of the recombinant form of a GST from A. gambiae, agGST1-6, have been grown in at least five different crystal forms, with a broad range of diffraction resolution limits. A complete 2.0 A data set has been collected on a C-centered orthorhombic crystal form with unit-cell parameters a = 99.0, b = 199.4, c = 89.6 A. A search for heavy-atom derivatives has been initiated, along with phase-determination efforts by molecular replacement.
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PMID:Crystallization of agGST1-6, a recombinant glutathione S-transferase from a DDT-resistant strain of Anopheles gambiae. 1113 35


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