Role of Pro-Oxidants from Infected RBCS in Disturbing Homeostasis and Pathogenesis During Malaria

Cells of the body maintain and regulate a constant internal environment to maintain homeostasis. Homeostasis of the body is constantly threatened by various internal or external factors. Malaria is one of the factors where red blood cells of the body is infected by plasmodium species. Infection causes the rupture of RBC to release daughter merozoite and various pro-oxidant factors [proteinous or non-proteinous) into the blood stream. It is a complex mixture consisting of host-derived proteins, parasite secreted proteins and other metabolically derived degraded peptides. MetHb, a proteinous factor having pro-oxidant nature is potentially toxic to different cell type, organ systems and produces a considerable amount of peroxide to accelerate oxidative-mediated tissue damage. Heme, a prosthetic group of Hb/MetHb is also highly toxic in nature. Free heme exhibits toxic effects to cells and tissue to cause oxidative stress, inflammation and RBC lysis which ultimately disturbs body homeostasis. Haemozoin, a metabolic waste of malaria parasite stimulates various immune cells of the host to exhibit a change in the cytokine secretion profile and contributes to the inflammation during malaria. The malaria-infected RBC and pro-oxidant are the key players for the disturbed homeostasis condition as observed during malaria.