Differential Activation of Fetal Hofbauer Cells in Primigravidas Is Associated with Decreased Birth Weight in Symptomatic Placental Malaria

Figure 1

Hemozoin (HZ) localization within KRT7+ syncytiotrophoblasts of control and placental malaria (PM) samples. (a)-(c) Control placentas were stained with cytokeratin-7 (KRT7), a trophoblast marker, and evaluated with light microscopy (a, b) and under polarized light filter (c) to assess for the presence of HZ crystals. There was no evidence of P. falciparum infection nor HZ in controls. (d)-(h) PM cases stained with KRT7 demonstrated HZ localization within the syncytiotrophoblasts (red arrow in zoom field (g), white arrow in zoom field (h)). STB: syncytiotrophoblast, IVS: intervillous space, RBC: red blood cell, FBV: fetal blood vessel.