title: Parasitemia Induces High Plasma Levels of Interleukin-17 (IL-17) and Low Levels of Interleukin-10 (IL-10) and Transforming Growth Factor-ß (TGF-ß) in Pregnant Mice Infected with Malaria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  During pregnancy, the balanced dominance of the T helper17 response shifts to a Th2 response that is characterised by the production of IL-10, following the completion of the implantation process. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) expression is associated with the completion of trophoblast invasion and placental growth. This study assessed the effect of malaria infection on the levels of IL-17, IL-10, and TGF-β in the plasma of pregnant mice with malaria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen pregnant BALB/C mice were divided into two groups: mice infected with Plasmodium berghei (treatment group) and uninfected mice (control group). The mice were sacrificed on day 18 post-mating. Parasitemia was measured by Giemsa staining. The levels of IL-17, IL-10, and TGF-β were measured by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using independent t test, the IL-17 levels in the treatment group were higher than those in the control group (= = 0.040). The IL-10 levels in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group (= = 0.00). There was no significant difference in the TGF-β levels (= = 0.055) between two groups. However, using SEM analysis the degree of parasitemia decreased the plasma TGF-β levels (tcount = 5.148; ≥ ttable = 1.96). SEM analysis showed that a high degree of parasitemia increased the IL-17 levels and decreased the IL-10 and TGF-β levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Malaria infection during pregnancy interferes with the systemic balance by increasing the IL-17 levels and decreasing the IL-10 and TGF-β levels.
authors.affiliation: Doctoral Program in Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Jalan Veteran Malang, East Java 65145, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Zainabur
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rahmah
authors.affiliation: Master Program in Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Jalan Veteran Malang, East Java 65145, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Sujarot Dwi
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Sasmito
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Brawijaya, Jalan Jaksa Agung Suprapto, No. 2 Malang, East Java, 65122, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Budi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Siswanto
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology Faculty of Medicine Universitas Brawijaya, Jalan Veteran Malang, East Java, 65145, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Teguh Wahju
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Sardjono
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology Faculty of Medicine Universitas Brawijaya, Jalan Veteran Malang, East Java, 65145, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Loeki Enggar
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Fitri
keywords: Plasmodium berghei; interleukin 10; interleukin 17; parasitemia; pregnancy; transforming growth factor-β