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Cell mediated immunity in childhood malaria
S Rajajee1, V Pushpa, P R Narayanan
1Department of Immunology, Tuberculosis Research Centre, Madras, Tamil-Nadu.
Insights
Childhood malaria, caused by Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum, does not appear to suppress cell-mediated immunity (CMI). Lymphocyte proliferation responses remained comparable between infected children and healthy controls, both during and after treatment.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Childhood malaria is a significant global health concern.
- Understanding the impact of malaria on the immune system is crucial for effective treatment and prevention strategies.
- Cell-mediated immunity (CMI) plays a vital role in controlling parasitic infections like malaria.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the status of cell-mediated immunity (CMI) in children with Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum malaria.
- To compare CMI responses during active infection and after treatment with those of healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Assessed CMI using lymphocyte proliferative response assays.
- Tested responses to mitogens phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and poke weed mitogen (PWM).
- Evaluated responses to the antigen purified protein derivative (PPD) in malaria patients and 19 healthy controls.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were observed in PHA, PWM, or PPD responses between children with malaria and healthy controls.
- Lymphocyte proliferative responses did not differ significantly between the period of parasitemia and after antimalarial treatment.
- These findings suggest that CMI, as measured by lymphocyte proliferation, is not depressed during childhood malaria.
Conclusions:
- Childhood malaria, including infections with P. vivax and P. falciparum, does not appear to cause a significant depression in cell-mediated immunity.
- Lymphocyte proliferative responses remain largely unaffected, indicating preserved immune function despite malarial infection.
- Further research may explore other aspects of immune response in pediatric malaria.
Abstract:
Children with malarial infection, due to P. Vivax and P. falciparum, were tested for cell mediated immunity (CMI) by lymphocyte proliferative response to mitogens PHA (phytohaemagglutinin) and PWM (poke weed mitogen) and antigen PPD (purified protein derivative). This was done during the period of parasitemia and after treatment, and compared to 19 normal matched controls. There was no significant difference between the patients and the control group with regard to PHA (patients 57.4 +/- 50.5; controls 61.3 +/- 54.9); PWM (patients 27.4 +/- 19.9, controls 29.9 +/- 24.5); PPD (patients 2.2 +/- 1.2, controls 1.9 +/- 1.4). There was also no significant difference in the lymphocyte responses during the period of parasitemia and after treatment. Hence, there does not seem to be any depression of CMI as shown by lymphocyte proliferative responses during childhood malaria.