Alterations in erythrocyte membrane phospholipid organization due to the intracellular growth of the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum.

The asymmetric distribution of phospholipids in the erythrocyte membrane during the intracellular development of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum was studied. Infected cells of high parasitaemia were treated with phospholipase A2 or sphingomyelinase C, followed by isolation of the host red cell membrane using the Affigel (731) bead method. Additionally, phosphatidylserine on the surface of infected cells was probed using a phosphatidylserine-sensitive prothrombinase assay. Trophozoite-infected cells showed an increase in phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine and a decrease in phosphatidylcholine in the outer leaflet. In addition to the changes already present in trophozoite-infected cells, schizont-infected cells showed a decrease in sphingomyelin as well as a further increase in phosphatidylserine in the outer leaflet. The results are discussed with respect to possible mechanisms and consequences of these changes.