Chronic infection during placental malaria is associated with up-regulation of cycloxygenase-2.
BACKGROUND
Placental malaria (PM) is associated with poor foetal development, but the pathophysiological processes involved are poorly understood. Cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) which convert fatty acids to prostaglandins and leukotrienes, play important roles in pregnancy and foetal development. COX-2, currently targeted by specific drugs, plays a dual role as it associates with both pre-eclampsia pathology and recovery during infection. The role of COX during PM was questioned by quantifying at delivery COX-1, COX-2, 15-LOX, and IL-10 expression in two groups of malaria infected and uninfected placenta.


METHODS
Placental biopsies were collected at delivery for mRNA isolation and quantification, using real time PCR.


RESULTS
COX-2 and IL-10 mRNAs increased mainly during chronic infections (nine- and five-times, respectively), whereas COX-1 transcripts remained constant. COX-2 over-expression was associated with a higher birth weight of the baby, but with a lower rate of haemoglobin of the mother. It was associated with a macrophage infiltration of the placenta and with a low haemozoin infiltration. In the opposite way, placental infection was associated with lower expression of 15-LOX mRNA. A high degree of haemozoin deposition correlates with low birth weight and decreased expression of COX-2.


CONCLUSIONS
These data provide evidence that COX-2 and IL-10 are highly induced during chronic infection of the placenta, but were not associated with preterm delivery or low birth weight. The data support the involvement of COX-2 in the recovery phase of the placental infection.
Sarr
Demba
D
Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal.
Aldebert
Delphine
D
Marrama
Laurence
L
Frealle
Emilie
E
Gaye
Alioune
A
Brahim
Hamoud O
HO
Niang
Makhtar
M
Dangou
Jean Marie
JM
Mercereau-Puijalon
Odile
O
Lehesran
Jean Yves
JY
Jambou
Ronan
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007249:Inflammation / Q000175:diagnosis; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology; D010920:Placenta / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D010922:Placenta Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012675:Senegal; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016753:Interleukin-10; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human