Human cytokine responses to meso-endemic malaria on the Pacific Coast of Colombia

Kurçer

et al. 2006

Parasite Immunology

We aimed to investigate the relationship between quantitative Plasmodium vivax parasitaemia and serum cytokine levels in a highly endemic region of Turkey, where such a relation has not been investigated before. Active screening was done in a total of 1316 people residing in 33 villages of Sanliurfa province, Turkey. The study population consisted of 79 consecutive patients with P. vivax malaria, and a control group included 89 healthy subjects. Thick blood smears were examined for malaria parasite and parasite count. Serum samples were analysed for IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and IL-12 by the ELISA method. Compared to controls, levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, i.e. IL-1beta, IL-6 and IL-12, were significantly higher in patients with parasitaemia. There was a significant positive correlation between serum IL-10 and IL-12 levels and the parasite burden (r = 0.264, P = 0.024 and r = 0.264, P = 0.024, respectively). Serum IL-8 levels showed a significant negative correlation with parasite burden (r =-0.356, P = 0.002). There was a positive correlation between IL-8 levels and age, while the opposite was observed for IL-12. High fever was correlated with IL-6 and IL-10 levels. Compared to controls, patients with a parasite count greater than 5000/microL had a significantly higher IL-1beta and IL-10 levels (P < 0.05), while the difference was not significant for patients with a parasite count less than 1000/microL. Thus, we can conclude that pro-inflammatory response against P. vivax gains more importance during periods of increased parasite burden.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Parasite density and serum cytokine levels in Plasmodium vivax malaria in Turkey

Kurçer

et al. 2006

Parasite Immunology

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

“…51 The type 2 cytokine profile, dominated by IL-4 expression, is less frequently associated with P. vivax infection and is usually noticeable only after prolonged exposure to the parasite. 52 However, IL-10 may be elevated during Plasmodium infection to "prevent both hyper-parasitemia and host pathology." 52 That is, a strong proinflammatory cytokine response should be balanced by a strong anti-inflammatory cytokine response.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…52 However, IL-10 may be elevated during Plasmodium infection to "prevent both hyper-parasitemia and host pathology." 52 That is, a strong proinflammatory cytokine response should be balanced by a strong anti-inflammatory cytokine response. 45 In the current study, various cytokine levels were significantly higher in male and female cases on day of diagnosis as compared with 8 days post-diagnosis (following chloroquine treatment) or when compared with the age-and sex-matched controls.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Reproductive Endocrine Response to Plasmodium Vivax Infection in Hondurans

Muehlenbein

Alger²,

Cogswell

et al. 2005

Reproductive physiology and endocrinology change with the onset of illness and injury in a variety of species, including humans. To assess the human reproductive endocrine response to malaria, serial serum samples were collected from 8 male and 9 female residents of Honduras infected with Plasmodium vivax (plus 19 male and 23 female healthy age-matched controls) and were analyzed for associations between testosterone, parasitemia, and cytokine levels. Because testosterone has been negatively associated with measures of immune function under various circumstances, it was hypothesized that testosterone would be directly associated with P. vivax parasitemia and inversely associated with proinflammatory cytokine levels. The findings presented here suggest that 1) testosterone levels are positively associated with P. vivax parasitemia in adult males, and 2) males infected with P. vivax exhibit significantly lower testosterone levels and significantly higher cortisol levels than healthy individuals. Depressed androgen levels during physiologic perturbations may be an advantageous, adaptive host response to ameliorate immunosuppression by higher testosterone levels and to curb the use of energetic resources for metabolically expensive anabolic functions.

“…Patients having moderate parasitemia in endemic regions of Colombia have high IFN-γ and TNF-α levels, a pro-inflammatory cytokine profile correlated with the response found in an unstable transmission region. The balance in interleukin (IL)-10/TNF-α rate could prevent increased parasitemia and host pathology ( 58 ).…”

Section: Immune Response Regarding Malariamentioning

confidence: 99%

What Is Known about the Immune Response Induced by Plasmodium vivax Malaria Vaccine Candidates?

et al. 2017

Malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax continues being one of the most important infectious diseases around the world; P. vivax is the second most prevalent species and has the greatest geographic distribution. Developing an effective antimalarial vaccine is considered a relevant control strategy in the search for means of preventing the disease. Studying parasite-expressed proteins, which are essential in host cell invasion, has led to identifying the regions recognized by individuals who are naturally exposed to infection. Furthermore, immunogenicity studies have revealed that such regions can trigger a robust immune response that can inhibit sporozoite (hepatic stage) or merozoite (erythrocyte stage) invasion of a host cell and induce protection. This review provides a synthesis of the most important studies to date concerning the antigenicity and immunogenicity of both synthetic peptide and recombinant protein candidates for a vaccine against malaria produced by P. vivax.