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Updated: Mar 31, 2026
Methods to Investigate the Regulatory Role of Small RNAs and Ribosomal Occupancy of Plasmodium falciparum
Published on: December 4, 2015
Human Gene Expression in Uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum Malaria
James M Colborn1, Joni H Ylöstalo2, Ousmane A Koita3
1Center for Infectious Diseases, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA ; Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
Abstract:
To examine human gene expression during uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria, we obtained three samples (acute illness, treatment, and recovery) from 10 subjects and utilized each subject's recovery sample as their baseline. At the time of acute illness (day 1), subjects had upregulation of innate immune response, cytokine, and inflammation-related genes (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF, and IFN-γ), which was more frequent with parasitemias >100,000 per μL and body temperatures ≥ 39°C. Apoptosis-related genes (Fas, BAX, and TP53) were upregulated acutely and for several days thereafter (days 1-3). In contrast, the expression of immune-modulatory (transcription factor 7, HLV-DOA, and CD6) and apoptosis inhibitory (c-myc, caspase 8, and Fas Ligand G) genes was downregulated initially and returned to normal with clinical recovery (days 7-10). These results indicate that the innate immune response, cytokine, and apoptosis pathways are upregulated acutely in uncomplicated malaria with concomitant downregulation of immune-modulatory and apoptosis inhibitory genes.
