Hemozoin

Hemozoin is a dark-brown heme crystal produced by the intraerythrocytic parasite Plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria. Hemozoin is taken up by macrophages initiating signals that lead to the production of IL-1β.

Hemozoin-induced IL-1β production is dependent on the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome [1,2]. Synthetic hemozoin has been shown to possess adjuvant properties that differ depending on the method of synthesis [3].

InvivoGen provides a chemically synthesized hemozoin using an acidic method.

References:

1. Shio MT. et al., 2009. Malarial hemozoin activates the NLRP3 inflammasome through Lyn and Syk kinases. PLoS Pathog. 5(8):e1000559.
2. Dostert C. et al., 2009. Malarial hemozoin is a Nalp3 inflammasome activating danger signal. PLoS One. 4(8):e6510.
3. Coban C. et al., 2010. The malarial metabolite hemozoin and its potential use as a vaccine adjuvant. Allergol Int. 59(2):115-24.