Malaria-associated cytokine changes in the placenta of women with pre-term deliveries in Yaounde, Cameroon.
The prevalence of pre-term deliveries (PTDs) is increased in women who become infected with Plasmodium falciparum during pregnancy. Because prematurity is a risk factor for newborns, it is important to identify conditions that contribute to malaria-associated PTDs. Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes sequester in the placenta and attract activated mononuclear cells that secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines. Increased inflammatory cytokine levels in other microbial infections are associated with PTDs. To determine if such is the case in women with placental malaria, concentrations of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and IL-10 were measured in placental plasma of 391 malaria-infected and -uninfected Cameroonian women with premature and full-term deliveries. Risk factors for malaria-associated PTDs included peripheral and placental parasitemias greater than 1%, maternal anemia, elevated IL-10 levels, and low TNF-alpha:IL-10 ratios due to over-expression of IL-10. Alterations in cytokine levels may contribute to PTDs through the induction of anemia and/or altering cellular immune responses required for eliminating placental parasites.
Suguitan
Amorsolo L
AL
Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia 20057, USA.
Cadigan
Timothy J
TJ
Nguyen
Thu A
TA
Zhou
Ainong
A
Leke
Robert J I
RJ
Metenou
Simon
S
Thuita
Lucy
L
Megnekou
Rosette
R
Fogako
Josephine
J
Leke
Rose G F
RG
Taylor
Diane Wallace
DW
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002163:Cameroon; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature; D010920:Placenta / Q000276:immunology*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology
D016207:Cytokines