The role of ICAM-1 in Plasmodium falciparum cytoadherence

Parasite sequestration at microvascular sites is a fundamental phenomenon in the manifestation of the symptoms of malaria and the progression to severe disease. Here, we review the endothelial cell-expressed intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and its role in mediating the interaction between the parasitised red blood cell (PRBC) and the vascular endothelium. We highlight the nature of the interaction between ICAM-1 and the parasite-expressed PfEMP-1 molecule at the molecular level. The review also discusses the complexity of the PRBC–endothelial cell interaction and the mechanisms that underlie parasite cytoadherence.