Potential pharmacologic interventions targeting TLR signaling in placental malaria

Placental malaria is associated with a TLR–Endothelin-3–oxidative damage response in human placenta tissues

“…These challenges highlight the urgent need to better understand the mechanisms underlying placental pathobiology of PM, which may inform the development of sensitive tools for diagnosing PM during pregnancy as well as effective therapeutic interventions. Our findings that PM may drive TLR-mediated responses in the placenta, raise the possibility that modulating innate responses to PM may improve fetal outcomes, as we previously discussed [13]. Moreover, our identification of an axis involving TLRs, Endothelins, and oxidative DNA damage during PM (Figure 5), highlights processes with the potential for intervention against human PM.…”

“…Our findings that placental malaria may drive TLR-mediated responses in the placenta raise the possibility that modulating innate responses to placental malaria may improve fetal outcomes, as we previously discussed [13]. Moreover, our identification of an axis involving TLRs, Endothelins, and oxidative DNA damage during placental malaria (Figure 5) highlights processes with the potential for intervention against human placental malaria.…”

“…Innate immune factors, such as Toll-like receptor (TLR)4, 7, and 9, which respond to infection by recognizing and clearing invading pathogens are reported to respond to malaria infection [13], although their role in PM is unclear. Although several studies have investigated maternal responses to PM, few have studied how the fetus responds to parasite sequestration in the placenta.…”

“…Innate immune factors, such as Toll-like receptor (TLR)4, 7, and 9, which respond to infection by recognizing invading pathogens for clearance, are reported to respond to malaria infection [13],…”