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Cerebrospinal fluid and plasma β-endorphin levels in children with cerebral malaria

Oluwatosin Eunice Olorunmoteni1, Oluwagbemiga Oyewole Adeodu1, Saheed B A Oseni1

  • 1Department of Paediatrics and Child Health Obafemi Awolowo UniversityIle-Ife Osun State Nigeria.

Brain and Behavior
|April 18, 2017
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Children with cerebral malaria (CM) show elevated beta-endorphin levels in plasma, particularly at discharge, suggesting increased production during illness. This finding contributes to understanding CM pathogenesis.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Cerebral malaria (CM) is a severe complication of malaria, with poorly understood pathogenesis.
  • Key factors implicated in CM include cytoadherence, inflammation, and microvascular obstruction.
  • Beta-endorphin's role in inflammation and cytokine expression during CM is under investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine beta-endorphin levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma of children with CM.
  • To compare plasma beta-endorphin levels in children with CM to healthy controls.
  • To investigate the association between beta-endorphin and CM severity.

Main Methods:

  • Studied 40 children diagnosed with CM and 40 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.
  • Collected cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and venous blood samples for beta-endorphin level determination.
  • Measured beta-endorphin concentrations using standard laboratory assays.

Main Results:

  • Mean CSF beta-endorphin level in CM patients was 1.8 ± 0.9 pmol/L.
  • Mean plasma beta-endorphin levels were higher in CM patients (3.1 ± 2.0 pmol/L at admission, 4.1 ± 3.3 pmol/L at discharge) compared to controls (2.7 ± 0.7 pmol/L).
  • Significantly higher plasma beta-endorphin levels were observed in CM patients at discharge (p = 0.012).

Conclusions:

  • Children with CM exhibit elevated plasma beta-endorphin levels compared to controls.
  • Increased production of beta-endorphins occurs in children during the course of CM.
  • Beta-endorphin may play a role in the inflammatory processes associated with cerebral malaria.
Keywords:
beta‐endorphincerebral malariacerebrospinal fluidplasma

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