AUTHOR=Hunt Nicholas H. , Ball Helen J. , Hansen Anna M. , Khaw Loke T. , Guo Jintao , Bakmiwewa Supun , Mitchell Andrew J. , Combes Valéry , Grau Georges E. R. TITLE=Cerebral malaria: gamma-interferon redux JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology VOLUME=4 YEAR=2014 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2014.00113 DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2014.00113 ISSN=2235-2988 ABSTRACT=

There are two theories that seek to explain the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria, the mechanical obstruction hypothesis and the immunopathology hypothesis. Evidence consistent with both ideas has accumulated from studies of the human disease and experimental models. Thus, some combination of these concepts seems necessary to explain the very complex pattern of changes seen in cerebral malaria. The interactions between malaria parasites, erythrocytes, the cerebral microvascular endothelium, brain parenchymal cells, platelets and microparticles need to be considered. One factor that seems able to knit together much of this complexity is the cytokine interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). In this review we consider findings from the clinical disease, in vitro models and the murine counterpart of human cerebral malaria in order to evaluate the roles played by IFN-γ in the pathogenesis of this often fatal and debilitating condition.