Platelet factor 4 and duffy antigen required for platelet killing of Plasmodium falciparum

Brendan J. McMorran*, Laura Wieczorski, Karen E. Drysdale, Jo Anne Chan, Hong Ming Huang, Clare Smith, Chalachew Mitiku, James G. Beeson, Gaetan Burgio, Simon J. Foote

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

136 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Platelets restrict the growth of intraerythrocytic malaria parasites by binding to parasitized cells and killing the parasite within. Here, we show that the platelet molecule platelet factor 4 (PF4 or CXCL4) and the erythrocyte Duffy-antigen receptor (Fy) are necessary for platelet-mediated killing of Plasmodium falciparum parasites. PF4 is released by platelets on contact with parasitized red cells, and the protein directly kills intraerythrocytic parasites. This function for PF4 is critically dependent on Fy, which binds PF4. Genetic disruption of Fy expression inhibits binding of PF4 to parasitized cells and concomitantly prevents parasite killing by both human platelets and recombinant human PF4. The protective function afforded by platelets during a malarial infection may therefore be compromised in Duffy-negative individuals, who do not express Fy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1348-1351
Number of pages4
JournalScience
Volume338
Issue number6112
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 7 Dec 2012

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