Serum containing tumor necrosis factor is cytotoxic for the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.

Sera (BCG-lipopolysaccharide [LPS] serum) were obtained from mice infected with Mycobacterium bovis BCG 2 h after intravenous administration of bacterial endotoxin (LPS). Varying concentrations of sera were added to cultures of Plasmodium falciparum-infected human erythrocytes; parasite viability was assessed by hypoxanthine incorporation after 4 days in culture. At concentrations of 1 to 3%, cultures treated with BCG-LPS serum showed a two- to threefold increase in hypoxanthine incorporation; at higher concentrations (4 to 8%), hypoxanthine incorporation fell to 2 to 5% of that in control cultures. Concurrent assays with control sera (from untreated mice or mice treated with BCG or LPS alone) caused some stimulation but no inhibition at up to 8% concentration. Examination of cultures treated with BCG-LPS serum showed morphological, deterioration of parasites within erythrocytes. The presence of tumor necrosis factor in the BCG-LPS serum was confirmed by using a standard L-cell cytotoxicity assay. In addition, rabbit antiserum against partially purified tumor necrosis factor protected intraerythrocytic forms of P. falciparum from the toxic effects of BCG-LPS serum. These data suggest that the factor in BCG-LPS serum that is toxic to P. falciparum in human erythrocytes is antigenically similar or identical to tumor necrosis factor. This nonantibody mediator of killing may play a role in human malaria.