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12:48
Isolation and Analysis of Brain-sequestered Leukocytes from Plasmodium berghei ANKA-infected Mice
Published on: January 2, 2013
Cytokines and malaria parasitemia
J Jason1, L K Archibald, O C Nwanyanwu
1HIV Immunology and Diagnostics Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Public Health Service, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
Clinical Immunology (Orlando, Fla.)
|July 24, 2001
Summary
Malaria severity in children may stem from a more proinflammatory immune response compared to adults. This study highlights the role of interleukin-10 (IL-10) in malaria and age-related immune differences.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Cytokine balance is crucial in malaria presentation and severity.
- Malaria is typically more severe in children, suggesting age-related differences in immunity.
- The precise nature of anti-malarial immunity and its age-related variations remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare serum and cell-specific cytokine profiles in malaria patients versus those with other illnesses and healthy controls.
- To investigate age-related differences in cytokine responses between parasitemic children and adults.
- To elucidate the role of specific cytokines, such as IL-10, IL-6, IL-4, and IL-8, in malaria.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry was performed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells from hospitalized children, febrile adults, and healthy adults in Malawi.
- Serum cytokine levels were assessed in a subset of participants.
- Participants were categorized based on malaria parasitemia (Plasmodium falciparum) and clinical status.
Main Results:
- Malaria patients exhibited higher serum interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels compared to other patients.
- Malaria patients showed lower percentages of lymphocytes producing IL-6.
- Parasitemic children had higher percentages of monocytes producing IL-8 compared to parasitemic adults.
- Children, regardless of malaria status, displayed higher cellular proinflammatory type 1 parameters than adults.
Conclusions:
- Interleukin-10 (IL-10) plays a significant role in malaria parasitemia, potentially acting as an immunoregulator.
- The observed lack of an IL-4 response suggests IL-10's function is primarily immunoregulatory.
- Children exhibit a more proinflammatory immune response to malaria than adults, which may explain the greater disease severity in pediatric populations.
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