Chronic impact of malaria on bone marrow niches and immune regulation after recovery from infection

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K16234
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 49040:Parasitology-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: LEE MICHELLE 東京大学, 医科学研究所, 特任助教 (10821423)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: Malaria / Bone marrow / Hematopoiesis

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Hematopoiesis in the bone marrow is modulated by signals from mesenchymal cells that form the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) niches. In this study, we found that malaria causes vasodilation, inhibits osteoblasts, and reduces a population of HSC niche supporting cells in the bone marrow. Gene transcriptomic analysis revealed that cytokines from these HSC niche supporting cells altered during malaria infection which led to impaired hematopoiesis and lymphopoiesis. We found that chronic asymptomatic malaria infection had a profound damage on bone marrow hematopoietic niches, raises the concern of asymptomatic cases that remain undiagnosed.

Free Research Field

マラリア免疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

This study reveals that infection such as malaria can modulate host immune responses by affecting bone marrow hematopoiesis through the alteration of bone marrow niches. This study suggests that malaria may have chronic impact on host immunity.