The involvement of hemozoin toxicity in depression of cellular immunity.

Human monocyte-derived macrophages are severely impaired after ingestion of isolated malaria pigment (hemozoin) or hemozoin-containing red blood cells'. In this brief review, Franco Turrini, Evelin Schwarzer and Poolo Arese discuss possible pothophysiologicol consequences, outline unresolved problems and provide an outlook for future research.