title: Depressed natural killer cell cytotoxicity against Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes during first pregnancies.
abstract: We measured natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity and cortisol and prolactin concentrations in peripheral venous blood samples obtained from pregnant Gabonese women at the time of delivery. The NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity against Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes in vitro was lower in samples obtained from primiparous women than in samples obtained from multiparous women; cortisol concentrations were significantly higher in primiparous women than in multiparous women, and prolactin concentrations were significantly lower. The highest cortisol concentrations were found in the plasma of P. falciparum-infected primiparous women. A positive correlation was found between cortisol concentration and parasite load; an inverse correlation was found between the magnitude of the NK cell cytolytic effect and cortisol production. A positive correlation was found between this effect and prolactin production. Thus, depressed NK cell cytotoxicity against P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes is correlated with high cortisol concentrations and may contribute to increased susceptibility to malaria during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Unit, Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Lambaréné.
authors.forename: Marielle K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Bouyou-Akotet
authors.forename: Saadou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Issifou
authors.forename: Jean F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Meye
authors.forename: Maryvonne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kombila
authors.forename: Edouard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ngou-Milama
authors.forename: Adrian J F
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Luty
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Kremsner
authors.forename: Elie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mavoungou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D005681:Gabon / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011388:Prolactin; D006854:Hydrocortisone