IL4 gene polymorphism and previous malaria experiences manipulate anti-Plasmodium falciparum antibody isotype profiles in complicated and uncomplicated malaria.

Background: The IL4-590 gene polymorphism has been shown to be associated with elevated levels of anti-Plasmodium falciparum IgG antibodies and parasite intensity in the malaria protected Fulani of West Africa. This study aimed to investigate the possible impact of IL4-590C/T polymorphism on anti-P. falciparum IgG subclasses and IgE antibodies levels and the alteration of malaria severity in complicated and uncomplicated malaria patients with or without previous malaria experiences.

Associations between the IL-4 -590 T allele and Plasmodium falciparum infection prevalence in asymptomatic Fulani of Mali.

In this study, we compared the genotype and allele frequencies of the IL-10 -1087 A/G and IL-4 -590 C/T single nucleotide polymorphisms in asymptomatic subjects of two sympatric ethnic tribes differing in susceptibility to malaria, the Fulani and the Dogon in Mali. The genotype data was correlated with ethnicity and malariometric indexes. A statistically significant inter-ethnic difference in allele and genotype frequency for both loci was noted (P<0.

Relative levels of IL4 and IFN-gamma in complicated malaria: association with IL4 polymorphism and peripheral parasitemia.

Functional IL4-590 C/T polymorphisms and the relative amounts of IL4 and IFN-gamma were investigated in relation to severity of malaria in 110 and 169 Thai patients with complicated and uncomplicated malaria, respectively. The plasma IL4 and IFN-gamma levels were determined by ELISA and the IL4-590 C/T polymorphisms were genotyped. The IFN-gamma levels were significantly elevated in patients with complicated malaria in the initial stage of the disease before treatment compared to the levels found with uncomplicated malaria (231pg/ml versus 150pg/ml, p=0.

Different antibody- and cytokine-mediated responses to Plasmodium falciparum parasite in two sympatric ethnic tribes living in Mali.

The Fulani are known to be less susceptible to Plasmodium falciparum malaria infections and to have lower parasitaemia despite living under similar malaria transmission intensity compared with other ethnic tribes. The aim of the present study was to examine whether the Fulani were more polarised towards Th2 as reflected by higher numbers of malaria-specific IL-4- and IL-10-producing cells and lower numbers of IFN-gamma- and IL-12-producing cells as compared to their neighbour ethnic tribe, the Dogon of Mali. Total IgE and both anti-malaria IgE and IgG antibodies were measured by ELISA and the numbers of IL-4-, IFN-gamma-, IL-10- and IL-12-producing cells were enumerated using enzyme-linked ImmunoSpot assay (ELISPOT).

A potential role of interleukin 18 in severe falciparum malaria.

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a potent proinflammatory cytokine that induces interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production from Th1 cells, NK cells and activated macrophages, particularly in the presence of IL-12. However, it is also shown that without help from IL-12, IL-18 is capable of inducing IL-4 and IL-13 production in T cells, NK cells, mast cells and basophils, and that administration of IL-18 in conjunction with an allergen increases serum IgE levels. In order to clarify the role of IL-18 in disease severity of falciparum malaria, we have examined serum levels of IL-18, IFN-gamma, and IgE for 96 patients with falciparum malaria [Trans.

Involvement of interleukin-18 in severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

Serum levels of interleukin-18 (IL-18), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and immunoglobulin E (IgE) were determined for 96 patients with Plasmodium falciparum malaria admitted to hospital, Bangkok, Thailand in the period 1998-2000. The patients were divided into 3 groups, i.e.

Cytokine and chemokine responses in a cerebral malaria-susceptible or -resistant strain of mice to Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection: early chemokine expression in the brain.

A comparative study was carried out on cytokine and chemokine responses in a cerebral malaria (CM)-susceptible or -resistant strain of mice (C57BL/6 or BALB/c respectively) in Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection. C57BL/6 mice died by 10 days after infection when parasitemia was approximately 15-20% with cerebral symptoms, while BALB/c mice survived until week 3 after infection. Although both strains showed T(h)1-skewed responses on day 4 after infection, significantly higher levels of IFN-gamma, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and NO were observed during the course of the infection in BALB/c, suggesting that T(h)1 responses are involved in the resistance.