Pharmaceutica Analytica Acta

Abstract

Secretion of Translationally Controlled Tumor Protein/Histamine Releasing Factor and Its Relevance to Parasitic Infections

Maeng J and Lee K

Allergic diseases, including atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and asthma, develop when the immune system is hypersensitized by specific allergens. Translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP), also known histaminereleasing factor (HRF) because of its cytokine-like activity, mediates late phase reaction leading to allergy and chronic inflammatory diseases in the human. TCTP exhibits HRF activity, when it is released from the cells and becomes dimerized under the inflammatory conditions. It has been shown that TCTP is secreted from cells by a TSAP6-mediated, exosomal route, and exported by H,K-ATPase-mediated process. TCTP is released from various parasitic organisms during parasitic infections. Secreted TCTP is implicated in allergic immune responses to parasites, in the pathogenesis of parasitic infections and also in the evasion of host’s immune activity for parasite survival. This review, briefly collates the current information on the secretion of TCTP/HRF by parasitic species and the biological and clinical implications of such release in parasitic diseases such as malaria.