title: Cytokine and antibody responses to Plasmodium falciparum in naïve individuals during a first malaria episode: effect of age and malaria exposure.
abstract: Age- and exposure-dependent immune responses during a malaria episode may be key to understanding the role of these factors in the acquisition of immunity to malaria. Plasma/serum samples collected from naïve Mozambican children (n=48), European adults (naïve travelers, n=22; expatriates with few prior malaria exposures, n=15) and Mozambican adults with long-life malaria exposure (n=99) during and after a malaria episode were analyzed for IgG against merozoite proteins by Luminex and against infected erythrocytes by flow cytometry. Cytokines and chemokines were analyzed in plasmas/sera by suspension array technology. No differences were detected between children and adults with a primary infection, with the exception of higher IgG levels against 3D7 MSP-1(42) (P=0.030) and a P. falciparum isolate (P=0.002), as well as higher IL-12 (P=0.020) in children compared to other groups. Compared to malaria-exposed adults, children, travelers and expatriates had higher concentrations of IFN-γ (P ≤ 0.0090), IL-2 (P ≤ 0.0379) and IL-8 (P ≤ 0.0233). Children also had higher IL-12 (P=0.0001), IL-4 (P=0.003), IL-1β (P=0.024) and TNF (P=0.006) levels compared to malaria-exposed adults. Although IL-12 was elevated in children, overall the data do not support a role of age in immune responses to a first malaria episode. A T(H)1/pro-inflammatory response was the hallmark of non-immune subjects.
authors: Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain. gemma.moncunil@cresib.cat
authors: Gemma
authors: G
authors: Moncunill
authors: Alfredo
authors: A
authors: Mayor
authors: Alfons
authors: A
authors: Jiménez
authors: Augusto
authors: A
authors: Nhabomba
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Puyol
authors: Maria N
authors: MN
authors: Manaca
authors: Diana
authors: D
authors: Barrios
authors: Pau
authors: P
authors: Cisteró
authors: Caterina
authors: C
authors: Guinovart
authors: Ruth
authors: R
authors: Aguilar
authors: Azucena
authors: A
authors: Bardají
authors: María-Jesús
authors: MJ
authors: Pinazo
authors: Evelina
authors: E
authors: Angov
authors: Sheetij
authors: S
authors: Dutta
authors: Chetan E
authors: CE
authors: Chitnis
authors: José
authors: J
authors: Muñoz
authors: Joaquim
authors: J
authors: Gascón
authors: Carlota
authors: C
authors: Dobaño
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000276:immunology*; D018925:Chemokines / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007223:Infant; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000276:immunology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011994:Recombinant Proteins