Integrative proteomic profiling of malaria-derived microparticles: A mass spectrometry-based study.

Background: Malaria remains a major public health challenge, causing high mortality and morbidity, particularly in developing countries. Microparticles (MPs), also known as plasma membrane-derived extracellular vesicles (PMEVs), are sub-cellular structures formed by budding off the plasma membrane. Although present in healthy individuals, their numbers increase during pathological conditions such as malaria. While several studies have examined proteins in cell-specific MPs, limited information exists on the protein composition of circulating MPs in malaria and their link to disease symptoms. This study aimed to perform proteomic analyses of MPs from malaria-positive samples, parasite culture supernatants, and healthy controls to elucidate their role in malaria infection. Materials and Methods: Plasma samples were obtained from forty-three (43) malaria diagnosed patients (cases) and ten (10) healthy individuals (controls). MPs were isolated from malaria parasite culture supernatant and confirmed using flow cytometry. 2D LC-MS was done to obtain their protein content. Resultant data were analysed using SPSS Ver. 21.0 statistical software, Kruskal Wallis test and Spearman's correlation coefficient r. Results: In all, 1806 proteins were isolated from the samples. The MPs from malaria-positive samples recorded 1729 proteins, those from culture supernatant 333 while the control samples recorded 234 proteins. The mean number of proteins in MPs of malaria positive samples was significantly higher than that in the control samples. Significantly, higher quantities of haemoglobin subunits were seen in MPs from malaria samples and culture supernatant compared to control samples. Conclusions: infection. Also while some proteins were up-regulated in circulating MPs in malaria, others were down-regulated.