Cerebral malaria is associated with low levels of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in African children.
Damage to the cerebral microvasculature is a feature of cerebral malaria. Circulating endothelial progenitor cells are needed for microvascular repair. Based on this knowledge, we hypothesized that the failure to mobilize sufficient circulating endothelial progenitor cells to the cerebral microvasculature is a pathophysiologic feature of cerebral malaria. To test this hypothesis, we compared peripheral blood levels of CD34 (+)/VEGFR2(+) and CD34 (+)/CD133(+) cells and plasma levels of the chemokine stromal cell-derived growth factor 1 (SDF-1) in 214 children in Accra, Ghana. Children with cerebral malaria had lower levels of CD34 (+)/VEGFR2(+) and CD34 (+)/CD133(+) cells compared with those with uncomplicated malaria, asymptomatic parasitemia, or healthy controls. SDF-1 levels were higher in children with acute malaria compared with healthy controls. Together, these results uncover a potentially novel role for endothelial progenitor cell mobilization in the pathophysiology of cerebral malaria.
Gyan
Ben
B
Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Legon, Ghana.
Goka
Bamenla Quarm
BQ
Adjei
George O
GO
Tetteh
John K A
JK
Kusi
Kwadwo Asamoah
KA
Aikins
Anastasia
A
Dodoo
Daniel
D
Lesser
Martin L
ML
Sison
Cristina P
CP
Das
Sanchita
S
Howard
Marion E
ME
Milbank
Elizabeth
E
Fischer
Kimberly
K
Rafii
Shahin
S
Jin
David
D
Golightly
Linnie M
LM
D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis; D018925:Chemokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016779:Malaria, Cerebral / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000032:analysis
D000071916:AC133 Antigen; D015703:Antigens, CD; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D018925:Chemokines; D006023:Glycoproteins; C000606023:PROM1 protein, human; D010455:Peptides; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2