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Infection and Immunity, May 2003, p. 2455-2461, Vol. 71, No. 5
0019-9567/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/IAI.71.5.2455-2461.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan Expression and Binding of Plasmodium falciparum-Infected Erythrocytes in the Human Placenta during Pregnancy

Sean T. Agbor-Enoh,1 Rajeshwara N. Achur,1,2 Manojkumar Valiyaveettil,1,2 Rose Leke,3 Diane W. Taylor,4 and D. Channe Gowda1,2*

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033,2 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D.C. 20007,1 Biotechnology, Center, University of Yaounde, Yaounde, Cameroon,3 Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. 200574

Received 30 October 2002/ Returned for modification 21 December 2002/ Accepted 30 January 2003

A characteristic feature of malaria during pregnancy is the sequestration of Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells (IRBCs) in the intervillous spaces of the placenta. We have recently shown that unusually low-sulfated chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) present in the intervillous spaces mediate the adherence of IRBCs in the placenta. In areas of endemicity, the prevalence of P. falciparum infection in pregnant women peaks during weeks 13 to 20 and then gradually declines, implying that the placental CSPGs are available for IRBC adhesion early during the pregnancy. However, there is no information on the expression and composition of CSPGs during pregnancy. In this study, the expression pattern of CSPGs during the course of pregnancy was investigated. The CSPGs were purified from placentas of various gestational ages, characterized, and tested for the ability to bind IRBCs. The data demonstrate that the CSPGs are present in the intervillous spaces throughout the second and third trimesters. The levels of CSPGs expressed per unit tissue weight were similar in placentas of various gestational ages. However, the structures of the intervillous-space CSPGs changed considerably during the course of pregnancy. In particular, the molecular weight was decreased, with an accompanying gradual increase in the CSPG size polydispersity, from 16 weeks until 38 weeks. The sulfate content was increased considerably after 24 weeks. Despite these structural changes, the CSPGs of placentas of various gestational ages efficiently supported the binding of IRBCs. These results demonstrate that CSPGs can mediate the sequestration of IRBCs in the intervillous spaces of the placenta during the entire second and third trimesters and possibly during the later part of the first trimester as well.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, 500 University Dr., Hershey, PA 17033. Phone: (717) 531-0992. Fax: (717) 531-7072. E-mail: gowda{at}psu.edu.

Editor: W. A. Petri, Jr.

Infection and Immunity, May 2003, p. 2455-2461, Vol. 71, No. 5
0019-9567/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/IAI.71.5.2455-2461.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

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