Cytokine and antibody responses to Plasmodium falciparum in naïve individuals during a first malaria episode: effect of age and malaria exposure
Age- and exposure-dependent immune responses during a malaria episode may be key to understanding the role of these factors in the acquisition of immunity to malaria. Plasma/serum samples collected from naïve Mozambican children (n=48), European adults (naïve travelers, n=22; expatriates with few pr...
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Published in | PloS one Vol. 8; no. 2; p. e55756 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
United States
Public Library of Science
21.02.2013
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Age- and exposure-dependent immune responses during a malaria episode may be key to understanding the role of these factors in the acquisition of immunity to malaria. Plasma/serum samples collected from naïve Mozambican children (n=48), European adults (naïve travelers, n=22; expatriates with few prior malaria exposures, n=15) and Mozambican adults with long-life malaria exposure (n=99) during and after a malaria episode were analyzed for IgG against merozoite proteins by Luminex and against infected erythrocytes by flow cytometry. Cytokines and chemokines were analyzed in plasmas/sera by suspension array technology. No differences were detected between children and adults with a primary infection, with the exception of higher IgG levels against 3D7 MSP-1(42) (P=0.030) and a P. falciparum isolate (P=0.002), as well as higher IL-12 (P=0.020) in children compared to other groups. Compared to malaria-exposed adults, children, travelers and expatriates had higher concentrations of IFN-γ (P ≤ 0.0090), IL-2 (P ≤ 0.0379) and IL-8 (P ≤ 0.0233). Children also had higher IL-12 (P=0.0001), IL-4 (P=0.003), IL-1β (P=0.024) and TNF (P=0.006) levels compared to malaria-exposed adults. Although IL-12 was elevated in children, overall the data do not support a role of age in immune responses to a first malaria episode. A T(H)1/pro-inflammatory response was the hallmark of non-immune subjects. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 Competing Interests: The co-author AM is a PLOS ONE Editorial Board member. This does not alter the authors' adherence to all the PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials. Produced the recombinant proteins: EA SD CEC. Designed and conducted the field trial: CG. Performed clinical diagnosis, management of malaria patients and collected clinical data: CG MJP JM JG AB. Coordinated data compilation and performed blood sample processing: RA LP DB PC MNM AN. Conceived and designed the experiments: CD JG AM GM. Performed the experiments: GM DB AJ. Analyzed the data: GM AM CD. Wrote the paper: GM AM CD. |
ISSN: | 1932-6203 1932-6203 |
DOI: | 10.1371/journal.pone.0055756 |