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Effect of cytokine treatment on the in vitro expression of the P. falciparum adhesion receptor chondroitin-4-sulphate on the surface of human choriocarcinoma (BeWo) cells

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Abstract

BeWo human choriocarcinoma cells have recently been identified as an in vitro model of adhesion of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes to the major placental receptor chondroitn-4-sulphate (CSA). In this study, we show that treatment of BeWo cells with tumour necrosis factor-α and/or interferon-γ, cytokines linked with pregnancy-associated malaria and poor pregnancy outcome, does not alter the expression of cell surface CSA. BeWo cells do not express the common P. falciparum adhesion receptor cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) on the cell surface, and this was unchanged after treatment with cytokines. These data demonstrate that in vitro cultured BeWo cells mimic the P. falciparum adhesion receptor expression profile of ex vivo placental cytotrophoblast cells.

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Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), SFB 544 “Control of Tropical infectious Diseases” (YA, RS-A, and KTA) and a Griffith University Research Grant (KTA). KTA was supported by the Australian Centre for International and Tropical Health (ACITH) funded under PHERP.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hygiene-Institut, Abteilung Parasitologie, Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, Heidelberg, 69120, Germany

    Yvonne Adams

  2. Clinical Tropical Medicine Laboratory, Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia

    Yvonne Adams, James S. McCarthy & Katherine T. Andrews

  3. Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Tumorimmunologie, Im Neuenheimer Feld 580, Heidelberg, 69120, Germany

    Reinhard Schwartz-Albiez

  4. Griffith Medical Research College, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia

    Katherine T. Andrews

  5. Australian Centre for International and Tropical Health and Nutrition (ACITHN) and Clinical Tropical Medicine Laboratory, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia

    Katherine T. Andrews

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  1. Yvonne Adams
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  2. Reinhard Schwartz-Albiez
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  3. James S. McCarthy
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  4. Katherine T. Andrews
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Correspondence to Katherine T. Andrews.

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Adams, Y., Schwartz-Albiez, R., McCarthy, J.S. et al. Effect of cytokine treatment on the in vitro expression of the P. falciparum adhesion receptor chondroitin-4-sulphate on the surface of human choriocarcinoma (BeWo) cells. Parasitol Res 101, 479–483 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-007-0473-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-007-0473-3

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