Differential cellular accumulation of transforming growth factor-beta1, -beta2, and -beta3 in brains of patients who died with cerebral malaria.
In cerebral malaria (CM), pathologic cytokine expression patterns are thought to contribute to disruption of the blood-brain barrier, inflammation, and astrocytic scar formation. Expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, -beta2, and -beta3 was analyzed in the brains of 7 patients who died with CM and in 8 control patients. In the brains of patients with CM, there were significantly (P=.0003) more TGF-beta1-immunoreactive astrocytes adjacent to brain vessels with deposition of malarial pigment, significantly (P=.0081) more TGF-beta2-expressing macrophages/microglial cells in glioses of ring hemorrhages and Dürck's granulomas, and significantly (P=.0022) more TGF-beta3-expressing smooth-muscle cells and endothelial cells of brain vessels with sequestration. It is concluded that focal accumulation of TGF-beta1, -beta2, and -beta3 provides evidence for their involvement in the reorganization process of the brain parenchyma, immunologic dysfunction, and endothelial cell activation in patients with CM.
Deininger
M H
MH
Institute of Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Medical School, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany. hirnforschung@uni-tuebingen.de
Kremsner
P G
PG
Meyermann
R
R
Schluesener
H J
HJ
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D016779:Malaria, Cerebral / Q000378:metabolism*; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000378:metabolism; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*
D020033:Protein Isoforms; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta