Circulating Monocytes, Tissue Macrophages, and Malaria

Table 1

Diverse cell types mediate malaria-induced immune response and injury.

Cell type	Location	Function
Kupffer cell	Liver	(i) Phagocytosis of infected RBCs; (ii) Recruitment of other immune cells by secretion of cytokines; (iii) Prevention of parasitic infection in hepatocytes; (iv) Limiting infection through induction of apoptosis
Splenic macrophages	Spleen	(i) Secretion of cytokines
Circulating monocytes	Blood	(ii) Phagocytosis of infected RBCs
Microglia	CNS	(i) Induce accumulation of perivascular macrophages; (ii) Secretion of cytokines
Hofbauer cells (fetal)	Placenta	(i) Phagocytosis of infected RBCs; (ii) Secretion of cytokines; (iii) Interaction between maternal/fetal immunity
Intervillous monocytes (maternal)
Decidual macrophages (maternal)

Description of immune cells involved in malaria response by location/origin and function. CNS, central nervous system; RBC, red blood cell.