Serum laminin in malaria.
OBJECTIVE
To determine serum laminin concentrations in patients with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria.


METHODS
An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine serum laminin concentrations in 54 patients with acute uncomplicated P falciparum malaria during and after treatment, and in 17 control subjects in Bangkok, Thailand.


RESULTS
Raised concentrations of soluble laminin were observed in patients (mean (SD) concentration 628 (225) ng/ml), compared with normal controls (490 (116) ng/ml), during the acute phase of the disease. During treatment, serum laminin concentrations decreased and returned to normal within three days. Serum laminin concentrations were correlated with parasite counts before treatment, and with the serum concentration of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), soluble E-selectin, and soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor at 55 kilodaltons.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings are compatible with an increased production or release of laminin in P falciparum malaria, which could indicate a role for the subendothelial basement membrane in the pathogenesis of the disease.
Wenisch
C
C
Department of Infectious Diseases and Chemotherapy, University Hospital of Vienna, Austria.
Graninger
W
W
Viravan
C
C
Looareesuwan
S
S
Parschalk
B
B
Wernsdorfer
W
W
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000097:blood; D019040:E-Selectin; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D007797:Laminin / Q000097:blood*; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000032:analysis
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D019040:E-Selectin; D007797:Laminin; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1