Fig. 6: proposed two-phase mechanism of CXCL10 regulation.
From: Malaria parasites both repress host CXCL10 and use it as a cue for growth acceleration
A ‘decision sensing system’: A In non-complicated malaria (upper panel) the Pf-iRBCs repress CXCL10 expression in host monocytes via transferring of RNA cargo encapsulated in parasite-derived EVs. The RNA cargo is then recognized by the host RNA receptor, RIG-I, leading to a cascade of events that eventually blocks the association of the ribosomes to CXCL10 transcript in a process mediated by its 3′UTR and binding of HUR1. B However, in complicated malaria (such as CM) when CXCL10 level are higher, the chemokine is sensed back as an ‘alert facilitator’, prompting parasitic proliferation, possibly allowing an escape action (bottom panel). Other host immune cells produce and secrete CXCL10.
