Low Fetal Weight is Directly Caused by Sequestration of Parasites and Indirectly by IL-17 and IL-10 Imbalance in the Placenta of Pregnant Mice with Malaria.
The sequestration of infected erythrocytes in the placenta can activate the syncytiotrophoblast to release cytokines that affect the micro-environment and influence the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to fetus. The high level of IL-10 has been reported in the intervillous space and could prevent the pathological effects. There is still no data of Th17 involvement in the pathogenesis of placental malaria. This study was conducted to reveal the influence of placental IL-17 and IL-10 levels on fetal weights in malaria placenta. Seventeen pregnant BALB/C mice were divided into control (8 pregnant mice) and treatment group (9 pregnant mice infected by Plasmodium berghei). Placental specimens stained with hematoxylin and eosin were examined to determine the level of cytoadherence by counting the infected erythrocytes in the intervillous space of placenta. Levels of IL-17 and IL-10 in the placenta were measured using ELISA. All fetuses were weighed by analytical balance. Statistical analysis using Structural Equation Modeling showed that cytoadherence caused an increased level of placental IL-17 and a decreased level of placental IL-10. Cytoadherence also caused low fetal weight. The increased level of placental IL-17 caused low fetal weight, and interestingly low fetal weight was caused by a decrease of placental IL-10. It can be concluded that low fetal weight in placental malaria is directly caused by sequestration of the parasites and indirectly by the local imbalance of IL-17 and IL-10 levels.
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Jalan Veteran Malang, East Java 65145, Indonesia.
Loeki Enggar
LE
Fitri
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Jalan Veteran Malang, East Java 65145, Indonesia.
Teguh Wahju
TW
Sardjono
Reproductive Biology Doctoral Program in Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Jalan Veteran Malang, East Java 65145, Indonesia.
Zainabur
Z
Rahmah
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, dr. Saiful Anwar Hospital/Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Jalan Jaksa Agung Suprapto No.2, Malang, East Java 65122, Indonesia.
Budi
B
Siswanto
Department Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Jalan Veteran Malang, East Java 65145, Indonesia.
Kusworini
K
Handono
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Jalan Mayjen Prof. Dr. Moestopo No. 47 Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia.
Yoes Prijatna
YP
Dachlan
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D020567:Fetal Weight; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008288:Malaria / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010920:Placenta / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000503:physiopathology
D020381:Interleukin-17; D016753:Interleukin-10
IL-10; IL-17; Plasmodium berghei; cytoadherence; low fetal weight; placental malaria