Cytokine levels during mild and cerebral falciparum malaria in children living in a mesoendemic area.
Cell-mediated immunity and cytokines are probably involved in the pathogenesis of malaria. To investigate the role and the activity of different immune cells, we measured levels of tumour necrosis factor-(TNF-alpha), gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and several interleukins (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10) in children with mild (MM) and cerebral (CM) Plasmodium falciparum malaria and compared them with those of healthy children from Guadalupe--Lobata District, St. Tomé Island, where malaria is mesoendemic. Both groups of patients had significantly higher levels of IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-alpha than controls. For IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-gamma we found no difference between the groups. However, 24 h after admission the levels of IL-10 and IL-6 were significantly higher in CM than in MM patients, although 7 days after treatment they returned to normal levels, similar to those found in control children. Therefore, TNF-alpha IL-6 and IL-10 increase during Plasmodium falciparum attacks in all children, not only in those with cerebral malaria. This finding suggests the activation of the monocyte/macrophage system during the early stage of clinical malaria.
Baptista
J L
JL
Department of Parasitology, Prince Leopold Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
Vanham
G
G
Wéry
M
M
Van Marck
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000354:Africa, Western / Q000453:epidemiology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality
D016207:Cytokines