Characterization of endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced cell death pathways in rodent malaria parasites

Multiple drug resistance, MDR, which is developed against various chemicals used for therapeutic purpose in human cancer cells, is one of the factors limiting success in cancer treatment. Therefore, studies aiming at developing drugs targeting programmed cell death in cancer cells have gained speed. Considering multiple drug resistance was also observed againist antimalarial drugs, in this study, it was aimed to understand the molecular mechanism of ER stress-induced cell death pathways. For this purpose, effects of ER stress-inducer tunicamycin, antimalarial chloroquine and anticancer 5-Fluorouracil drugs on cell survival and growth investigated in rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei. Additionally, expression profiles of target genes that play a role in apoptosis and autophagy processes will be investigated at transcript level. Considering the expression levels of the BIP (Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain Binding Protein) gene in rodent malaria parasite, Plasmodium berghei; It has been conclusively shown that a strong ER stress is triggered by the administration of tunicamycin, 5-fluorouracil and chloroquine drugs. In the application of 5-fluorouracil and chloroquine, despite the activation of autophagy-related genes, cells tended to apoptosis; and in tunicamycin application, cells directly tended to apoptosis.