Role of white blood cells in immunopathogenesis of cerebral malaria

Abstract

Cerebral malaria (CM) is a fatal complication caused by Plasmodium falciparum in humans claiming two million lives annually. The pathogenesis of this disease yet remains partially understood. Various studies have been carried out to understand the exact processes of CM which indicate towards the involvement of the immune response in the neurological complications. It has been hypothesized that CM occurs due to the over-vigorous immune response which originally evolved for the protection of the host against malaria. Some studies also examined immune-pathological responses occurring during CM and focused on reactions being carried out primarily in the systemic circulation. But these findings are not able to fully account for the development of neurological complications in malaria. There are multiple mechanisms which are involved in the induction of cerebral complications which contribute to the pathogenesis of CM. In the present study, results from human and mouse model demonstrating the contribution of various cells and cytokines in the development of CM and neurological complications have been summarized.