Inflammatory status and preerythrocytic stages of malaria: role of the C-reactive protein.

In the acquisition of protection against malaria, the role played by nonspecific factors, some being part of the cascade effect of cytokines, has to be considered. The C-reactive protein, a major acute phase reactant secreted by interleukin-1 stimulated hepatocytes, has an effect on the hepatic development of Plasmodia, both by preventing penetration of the sporozoite into the hepatocyte and by blocking parasite division through an antibody-like effect. This latter effect confirms the potential interest of targeting the uninuclear form of the parasite. Nevertheless, C-reactive Protein alone does not account for all the effects of the inflammatory response, other reactants from both serum and hepatocytes are also involved.