Nonimmune IgM, but not IgG binds to the surface of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes and correlates with rosetting and severe malaria.

J Alexandra Rowe Institute of Cell, Animal and Population Biology, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Alex.Rowe@ed.ac.uk

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Juma Shafi Institute of Cell, Animal and Population Biology, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Alex.Rowe@ed.ac.uk

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Oscar K Kai Institute of Cell, Animal and Population Biology, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Alex.Rowe@ed.ac.uk

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Kevin Marsh Institute of Cell, Animal and Population Biology, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Alex.Rowe@ed.ac.uk

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Ahmed Raza Institute of Cell, Animal and Population Biology, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Alex.Rowe@ed.ac.uk

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.2002.66.692
Volume/Issue:
Volume 66: Issue 6
Page(s):
692–699
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Recent work suggests that IgG and IgM from nonimmune human serum (natural antibodies) bind to the surface of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes and contribute to rosette formation by stabilizing the interaction between infected and uninfected erythrocytes. Here we show, in both laboratory clones and field isolates, that only IgM but not IgG is detected on the surface of infected cells. In field isolates, there was a strong positive correlation between IgM binding and rosette formation (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient p = 0.804, P < 0.001). Both rosette formation and IgM binding were associated with severe malaria, although statistical analysis indicates that rosette formation is the more strongly associated variable. Rosette formation, but not IgM binding, was also associated with malarial anemia. We conclude that IgM is the predominant class of natural antibodies binding to the surface of infected erythrocytes. However, we could not confirm previous suggestions that infected erythrocytes are coated with nonimmune IgG, which could lead to their interaction with host Fcgamma receptors.

Author Notes

Published Online:
Jun 2002
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
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