THE ANTIMALARIAL DRUG, RO-42-1611 (ARTEFLENE), DOES NOT AFFECT CYTOADHERENCE AND CYTOKINE-INDUCING PROPERTIES OF PLASMODIUM-FALCIPARUM MALARIA PARASITES

The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of the antima larial drug, Ro 42-1611 to block parasite mediated cytokine induction in vitro as well as cytoadherence of infected erythrocytes to melanoma cells in vitro. The biological activity of Po 42-1611 was confirmed a s it blocked Plasmodium falciparum growth in cultures. Ro 42-1611, had no major effect on TNF IL-alpha or IL-6 cytokine release from mononuc lear cells stimulated with malaria antigens or lipopolysaccharide and it did not affect cell viability. Ro 42-1611 only slightly suppressed cytoadherence of infected erythrocytes to melanoma cells. The therapeu tic effect of To 42-1611 appears to be confined to its parasite killin g activity.