AUTHOR=Pinheiro Alessandro de Sa , Kazura James W. , Pinheiro Ana Acacia , Schmaier Alvin H. 

TITLE=Is there a role for bradykinin in cerebral malaria pathogenesis?

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2023.1184896

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2023.1184896

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=Malaria is a parasitic disease of global health significance and a leading cause of death in children living in endemic regions.  Although different species are responsible for the disease, in humans, Plasmodium falciparum infection accounts for most severe cases of the disease.  The mechanisms of cerebral malaria pathogenesis have been extensively studied; however, it is far from being fully understood.  Recent discoveries indicate a potential role of bradykinin (BK) and the kallikrein kinin system (KKS) in the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria.  The aim of this review is to highlight how BK may impact cerebral blood-brain-barrier function and the involvement of the KKS in BK generation.  Areas of interest in this context include parasite enzymes that directly generate host BK from plasma protein precursors, cytoadhesion of P. falciparum infected erythrocytes to brain endothelial cells, and endothelial cell blood-brain barrier disruption.