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

Abstract

Malaria infection is characterized by periodic fevers. These fevers, in Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium malariae (the tertian and quartan malaria respectively), arise through the synchronous release of parasite derived "toxins" during the 48 or 72-hour blood stage development. These in turn cause the release of endogenous pyrogens such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) which mediate the febrile response by acting upon the hypothalamus. There is evidence suggestive of a role for TNF in wider spectrum of malaria associated disease, including severe clinical malaria, various malarial pathologies and even death. A case control study has shown a strong correlation between TNF and IL-1 levels in