Figure 3.

Distinct modes of host-parasite (blue circles) interactions in the HbAA (low miR-451, left) and HbSS (high miR-451, right) erythrocytes (red circles). The parasite transcripts (blue line) which are unmodified or modified by human microRNAs (red line) are indicated by respective color. In the erythrocytes with low miR-451, infected erythrocytes secrete miR-451-Ago2 containing microvesicles (MVs) to remodel endothelial cells to increase cytokine expression, facilitate erythrocyte attachment and to increase vascular permeability. These changes can benefit the parasites by facilitating their invasion and pathogenesis. In contrast, the erythrocytes with high miR-451 benefit host cells by exhibiting malaria resistance due to the increased import of miR-451 and enhanced modifications of parasite transcripts that reduce the protein of PKAR. This leads to the increased activities of PKA, reduced parasitemia and increased gametocytogenesis.