Malaria exoantigens induce TNF, are toxic and are blocked by T-independent antibody

The production of cytokines, including tumour necrosis factor (TNF), may be involved in the pathology of malaria, as well as in protection against the parasite. We have shown that parasite exoantigens induce the secretion of TNF in vitro and in vivo and kill mice made hypersensitive to TNF. They elicit T-independent antibody that inhibits their capacity to stimulate TNF production and protects against toxicity in vivo, and those of human and rodent parasites are serologically related. Their active component does not appear to be protein. Here we review their properties and consider the epidemiological significance of our findings and their possible contribution to the development of an “anti-disease” vaccine.