Impact of placental Plasmodium falciparum malaria on the profile of some oxidative stress biomarkers in women living in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
BACKGROUND
Impact of the pathophysiology of Plasmodium falciparum placental malaria (PM) on the profile of some oxidative stress biomarkers and their relationship with poor pregnancy outcomes in women remain unknown.


METHODS
Between 2013 and 2014, peripheral blood and placenta tissue from 120 Cameroonian women at delivery were assessed for maternal haemoglobin and, parasitaemia respectively. Parasite accumulation in the placenta was investigated histologically. The levels of oxidative stress biomarkers Malondialdehyde (MDA), Nitric Oxide (NO), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT) and Gluthatione (GSH) in the supernatant of teased placenta tissues were determined by Colorimetric enzymatic assays.


RESULTS
Parasitaemia was inversely related to haemoglobin levels and birth weight (P <0.001 and 0.012, respectively). The level of lipid peroxide product (MDA) was significantly higher in the malaria infected (P = 0.0047) and anaemic (P = 0.024) women compared to their non-infected and non-anaemic counterparts, respectively. A similar trend was observed with SOD levels, though not significant. The levels of MDA also correlated positively with parasitaemia (P = 0.0024) but negatively with haemoglobin levels (P = 0.002). There was no association between parasitaemia, haemoglobin level and the other oxidative stress biomarkers. From histological studies, levels of MDA associated positively and significantly with placenta malaria infection and the presence of malaria pigments. The levels of SOD, NO and CAT increased with decreasing leukocyte accumulation in the intervillous space. Baby birth weight increased significantly with SOD and CAT levels, but decreased with levels of GSH.


CONCLUSIONS
Placental P. falciparum infection may cause oxidative stress of the placenta tissue with MDA as a potential biomarker of PM, which alongside GSH could lead to poor pregnancy outcomes (anaemia and low birth weight). This finding contributes to the understanding of the pathophysiology of P. falciparum placental malaria in women.
Department of Animal Biology and Physiology of the Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaoundé, Cameroon; The Biotechnology Center, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon.
Rosette
R
Megnekou
Department of Animal Biology and Physiology of the Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaoundé, Cameroon; The Biotechnology Center, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon.
Jean Claude
JC
Djontu
The Biotechnology Center, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon; Department of Biochemistry of the Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Jude Daiga
JD
Bigoga
Department of Animal Biology and Physiology of the Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaoundé, Cameroon; The Biotechnology Center, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon.
Fabrice Mbah
FM
Medou
Department of Animal Biology and Physiology of the Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaoundé, Cameroon; The Biotechnology Center, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon.
Sandrine
S
Tenou
Department of Animal Biology and Physiology of the Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaoundé, Cameroon; The Biotechnology Center, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon.
Abel
A
Lissom
D002163:Cameroon; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000469:parasitology; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010920:Placenta / Q000469:parasitology*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000097:blood* / Q000469:parasitology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood
D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione