title: Cytokine modulation of human blood viscosity from vivax malaria patients.
abstract: Malaria is a major infectious disease in several countries and is caused by protozoa of the genus Plasmodium. In vivax malaria patients, inflammatory processes occur, as well as changes in cytokines and blood flow. The present study analyzed the cytokine modulation of blood viscosity from patients infected with Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax). Blood samples were collected from 42 non-infected individuals (control group) and 37 individuals infected with P. vivax. The IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNFα, TGF-β and IL-17 cytokine concentrations in the serum were assessed, and the blood rheological properties were determined. The analysis of blood viscosity for shear rates revealed that the blood viscosity of the infected patients was significantly greater than that of the non-infected individuals. The viscosity of the blood was greater in the infected individuals than in the non-infected subjects. The serum from individuals with P. vivax infections exhibited higher IFN-γ and IL-17 concentrations and lower TGF-β levels. Incubation of the blood from infected individuals with IL-17 or IL-17 associated with IFN-γ reduced the viscosity to rates equivalent to the blood from non-infected individuals. Independently of cytokine modulation, no correlation was found between the parasitemia and blood viscosity of the infected patients. These data suggest that the alterations of blood viscosity are relevant as an auxiliary tool for the clinical diagnosis of disease. In malaria, erythrocytes are more sensitive to osmotic shock, and the reduction of viscosity by IL-17 may be related to a possible immunomodulator agent during infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address: edsonscherer1@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Edson Fredulin
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Scherer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological and Health Science, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Barra do Garças, MT, Brazil. Electronic address: deborah_giovanna@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Déborah Giovanna
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Cantarini
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological and Health Science, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Barra do Garças, MT, Brazil. Electronic address: rennansiqueira@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Renan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Siqueira
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Science, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Sinop, MT, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elton Brito
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address: embraga@icb.ufmg.br.
authors.forename: Érika Martins
authors.initials: ÉM
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological and Health Science, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Barra do Garças, MT, Brazil. Electronic address: denifran@terra.com.br.
authors.forename: Adenilda Cristina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Honório-França
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological and Health Science, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Barra do Garças, MT, Brazil. Electronic address: dr.eduardo.franca@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Eduardo Luzía
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: França
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001809:Blood Viscosity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D008288:Malaria / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; C508609:IL10 protein, human; C508717:IL17A protein, human; D020381:Interleukin-17; D007376:Interleukin-2; C439524:TNF protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4
keywords: Blood viscosity; Cytokines; IL-17; Malaria; P. vivax