title: Levels of circulating nitrate/nitrite and gamma interferon not increased in uncomplicated malaria.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate nitric oxide (NO) activity in patients with uncomplicated malaria. Lipopolysaccharide and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) are potent inducers of NO by inducing production of NO synthase. NO activity was determined by measuring serum levels of nitrite/nitrate (metabolic end products of NO), and IFN-gamma in patients with uncomplicated malaria, mostly caused by Plasmodium falciparum. Neither serum levels of nitrite/nitrate nor of IFN-gamma were significantly increased in patients with uncomplicated malaria, especially in patients with P. falciparum infection, and in those with high parasitaemia. These results show that NO cannot play a role in uncomplicated malaria, and it is still debatable if NO production in this infection has beneficial or detrimental effects.
authors.affiliation: Div. of Infectious Diseases, Regional Hospital, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Torre
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferrario
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matteelli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Speranza
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giola
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pugliese
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cantamessa
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carosi
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Fiori
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D008288:Malaria / Q000097:blood* / Q000469:parasitology; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009566:Nitrates / Q000097:blood*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007371:Interferon-gamma