In view of these data, and considering that purification and isolation of fat-derived EC has been extensively described and can be performed routinely in living patients (Kern et al., 1983), EC derived from human subcutaneous fat appeared to represent an original and relevant alternative model to test our hypothesis and compare endothelial reactivity to TNF in patients with uncomplicated malaria (UM) and CM. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is malaria.