title: Mast cell activation in the skin of Plasmodium falciparum malaria patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mast cells (MCs) play an important role in the immune response and inflammatory processes. Generally, MCs can be stimulated to degranulate and release histamine upon binding to immunoglobulin E (IgE). In malaria, MCs have been linked to immunoglobulin (Ig) E-anti-malarial antibodies. This study investigated the response of MCs in the skin of patients with Plasmodium falciparum malaria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Skin tissue samples were examined from ten uncomplicated and 20 complicated P. falciparum malaria cases. Normal skin tissues from 29 cases served as controls. Pre- and post-treatment tissues were included. Histopathological changes of the skin were evaluated using haematoxylin and eosin stain. MCs were investigated using toluidine blue staining. The percentage of MC degranulation was compared among groups and correlated with clinical data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MC degranulation was significantly higher in the complicated P. falciparum (43.72% ± 1.44) group than the uncomplicated P. falciparum (31.35% ± 3.29) (p <0.05) and control groups (18.38% ± 1.75), (p <0.0001). MC degranulation correlated significantly with the degree of parasitaemia (rs  = 0.66, p <0.0001). Associated pathological features, including extravasation of red blood cells, perivascular oedema and leukocyte infiltration were significantly increased in the malaria groups compared with the control group (all p <0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MCs in the skin dermis are activated during malaria infection, and the degree of MC degranulation correlates with parasitaemia and disease severity.
authors: Department of Preclinic and Applied Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Nakhonpathom, 73170, Thailand. panop.wil@mahidol.ac.th.
authors: Panop
authors: P
authors: Wilainam
authors: Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Huachiew Chalermprakiet University, 18/18 Bang Na-Trad Road, Km 18, Samut Prakarn, 10540, Thailand. n_rungrat@yahoo.com.
authors: Rungrat
authors: R
authors: Nintasen
authors: Department of Tropical Pathology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 420/6 Rajvithi Road, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand. parnpen.vir@mahidol.ac.th.
authors: Parnpen
authors: P
authors: Viriyavejakul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology*; D014048:Tolonium Chloride
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D014048:Tolonium Chloride