Document Type
Article
Department
Pathology (East Africa)
Abstract
The implications of high levels of the immune regulatory cytokine IL-10 in Plasmodium falciparum malaria are unclear. IL-10 may down-regulate pro-inflammatory responses and also exacerbate disease by inhibiting anti-parasitic immune functions. To study possible inhibiting effects on parasite clearance, IL-10 plasma levels were determined in 104 Tanzanian children, 1 to 4 years old, with acute uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria, and analysed for association with parasite densities during 3 days of anti-malarial treatment. Higher baseline IL-10 plasma levels were associated with statistically significantly higher parasite densities after 24, 48 and 72 h of treatment. These associations could not be explained by differences in initial parasitaemia, temperature, age, sex or type of treatment. Induction of high IL-10 production might be a direct or indirect mechanism whereby the parasite evades the immune response.
Publication (Name of Journal)
Parasite Immunology
Recommended Citation
Hugosson, E.,
Montgomery, S.,
Premji, Z.,
Troye-Blomberg, M.,
Bjorkman, A.
(2004). Higher IL-10 levels are associated with less effective clearance of Plasmodium falciparum parasites. Parasite Immunology, 26(3), 111-117.
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/eastafrica_fhs_mc_pathol/80
Comments
This work was published prior to author’s joining Aga Khan University