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Segbefia SP, Asandem DA, Amoah LE, Kusi KA. Cytokine gene polymorphisms implicated in the pathogenesis of Plasmodium falciparum infection outcome. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1285411. [PMID: 38404582 PMCID: PMC10884311 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1285411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Cytokines play a critical role in the immune mechanisms involved in fighting infections including malaria. Polymorphisms in cytokine genes may affect immune responses during an infection with Plasmodium parasites and immunization outcomes during routine administration of malaria vaccines. These polymorphisms can increase or reduce susceptibility to this deadly infection, and this may affect the physiologically needed balance between anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory cytokines. The purpose of this review is to present an overview of the effect of selected cytokine gene polymorphisms on immune responses against malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selorm Philip Segbefia
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Diana Asema Asandem
- Department of Virology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Linda Eva Amoah
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kwadwo Asamoah Kusi
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
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de Jesus MCS, Cerilo-Filho M, Ramirez ADR, Menezes RAO, Gomes MSM, Cassiano GC, Gurgel RQ, Silva JRS, Moura TR, Pratt-Riccio LR, Baptista ARS, Storti-Melo LM, Machado RLD. Influence of trem-1 gene polymorphisms on cytokine levels during malaria by Plasmodium vivax in a frontier area of the Brazilian Amazon. Cytokine 2023; 169:156264. [PMID: 37327529 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2023.156264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The immunopathology during malaria depends on the level of inflammatory response generated. In this scenario, the TREM-1 has been associated with the severity of infectious diseases and could play an important role in the inflammatory course of malaria. We aimed to describe the allelic and genotypic frequency of four polymorphisms in the trem-1 gene in Plasmodium vivax-infected patients and to verify the association of these polymorphisms with clinical and immunological factors in a frontier area of the Brazilian Amazon. METHODS We included 76 individuals infected with P. vivax and 144 healthy controls living in the municipality of Oiapoque, Amapá, Brazil. The levels of TNF-α, IL-10, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, and IFN-γ were measured by flow cytometry, while IL-6, sTREM-1, and antibodies against PvMSP-119 were evaluated by ELISA. The SNPs were genotyped by qPCR technique. Polymorphisms analysis, allelic and genotype, frequencies, and HWE calculation were determined by x2 test in R Software. The association between the parasitemia, gametocytes, antibodies, cytokines, and sTREM-1 with the genotypes of malaria and control groups was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test, these analyzes were conducted in SPSS Software, at 5% significance level. RESULTS All SNPs were successfully genotyped. Allelic and genotypic distribution was in Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium. Furthermore, several associations were identified between malaria and control groups, with increased levels of IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in the infected individuals with rs6910730A, rs2234237T, rs2234246T, rs4711668C alleles compared to the homozygous wild-type and heterozygous genotypes of the controls (p-value < 0.05). No association was found for these SNPs and the levels of IL-2, and sTREM-1. CONCLUSIONS The SNPs on the trem-1 gene are associated with the effector molecules of the innate immunity and may contribute to the identification and effective participation of trem-1 in the modulation of the immune response. This association may be essential for the establishment of immunization strategies against malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myrela C S de Jesus
- Center for Microorganisms' Investigation, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Biomedical Institute, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói 24020-141, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Applied Microbiology and Parasitology, Biomedical Institute, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói 24210-130, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Marcelo Cerilo-Filho
- Center for Microorganisms' Investigation, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Biomedical Institute, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói 24020-141, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Applied Microbiology and Parasitology, Biomedical Institute, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói 24210-130, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Aina D R Ramirez
- Center for Microorganisms' Investigation, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Biomedical Institute, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói 24020-141, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Applied Microbiology and Parasitology, Biomedical Institute, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói 24210-130, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rubens A O Menezes
- Postgraduate Program in Applied Microbiology and Parasitology, Biomedical Institute, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói 24210-130, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Amapá (UNIFAP), Macapá 68903-419, Amapá, Brazil
| | - Margarete S M Gomes
- Superintendence of Health Surveillance of the State of Amapá, Macapá 68902-865, Amapá, Brazil
| | | | - Ricardo Q Gurgel
- Postgraduate Program in Parasite Biology, Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão 49100-000, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - José R S Silva
- Postgraduate Program in Parasite Biology, Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão 49100-000, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Tatiana R Moura
- Postgraduate Program in Parasite Biology, Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão 49100-000, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Lilian R Pratt-Riccio
- Laboratory for Malaria Research, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Andrea R S Baptista
- Center for Microorganisms' Investigation, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Biomedical Institute, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói 24020-141, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Applied Microbiology and Parasitology, Biomedical Institute, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói 24210-130, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luciane M Storti-Melo
- Postgraduate Program in Parasite Biology, Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão 49100-000, Sergipe, Brazil; Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão 49100-000, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Ricardo L D Machado
- Center for Microorganisms' Investigation, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Biomedical Institute, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói 24020-141, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Applied Microbiology and Parasitology, Biomedical Institute, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói 24210-130, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Parasite Biology, Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão 49100-000, Sergipe, Brazil
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Kotepui M, Mala W, Kwankaew P, Kotepui KU, Masangkay FR, Wilairatana P. Distinct cytokine profiles in malaria coinfections: A systematic review. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011061. [PMID: 36716305 PMCID: PMC9886258 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few data exist on the distinct cytokine profiles of individuals with malaria coinfections and other diseases. This study focuses on data collation of distinct cytokine profiles between individuals with malaria coinfections and monoinfections to provide evidence for further diagnostic or prognostic studies. METHODS We searched five medical databases, including Embase, MEDLINE, PubMed, Ovid, and Scopus, for articles on cytokines in malaria coinfections published from January 1, 1983 to May 3, 2022, after which the distinct cytokine patterns between malaria coinfection and monoinfection were illustrated in heat maps. RESULTS Preliminary searches identified 2127 articles, of which 34 were included in the systematic review. Distinct cytokine profiles in malaria coinfections with bacteremia; HIV; HBV; dengue; filariasis; intestinal parasites; and schistosomiasis were tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interferon (IFN)-γ, IFN-α, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-1 receptor antagonist (Ra), IL-4, IL-7, IL-12, IL-15, IL-17; TNF, IL-1Ra, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12, IL-18, CCL3, CCL5, CXCL8, CXCL9, CXCL11, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF); TNF, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, CCL2; IFN-γ, IL-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-17, CCL2, CCL3, CCL4, G-CSF; IL-1Ra, IL-10, CXCL5, CXCL8, CXCL10; TNF, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10; and TNF, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, transforming growth factor-β, CXCL8, respectively. CONCLUSION This systematic review provides information on distinct cytokine profiles of malaria coinfections and malaria monoinfections. Further studies should investigate whether specific cytokines for each coinfection type could serve as essential diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers for malaria coinfections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manas Kotepui
- Medical Technology Program, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Tha Sala, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
- * E-mail: (MK); (PW)
| | - Wanida Mala
- Medical Technology Program, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Tha Sala, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
| | - Pattamaporn Kwankaew
- Medical Technology Program, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Tha Sala, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
| | - Kwuntida Uthaisar Kotepui
- Medical Technology Program, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Tha Sala, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
| | | | - Polrat Wilairatana
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- * E-mail: (MK); (PW)
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Kotepui KU, Thirarattanasunthon P, Rattaprasert P, Kotepui M. A systematic review and meta-analysis of blood interleukin-4 levels concerning malaria infection and severity. Malar J 2022; 21:217. [PMID: 35820892 PMCID: PMC9277793 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-022-04237-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Interleukin (IL)-4 had been linked to malaria severity, but the findings are controversial, and the evidence is inconsistent and imprecise. In the current investigation, data on IL-4 levels in patients with severe and uncomplicated malaria were compiled. Methods The systematic review was registered at PROSPERO (CRD42022323387). Searches for relevant articles on IL-4 levels in patients with severe malaria and studies that examined IL-4 levels in both uncomplicated malaria and healthy controls were performed in PubMed, Embase, and Scopus using the search strategy without limitation to publication years or language. The quality of all included studies was evaluated using The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) Statement: standards for reporting observational studies. Qualitative and quantitative data syntheses were performed. The random-effects model, which weights each study according to its between- and within-study variance, was used to pool the mean difference (MD) of individual studies. The degree of heterogeneity was determined using Cochran's Q and I2 statistics. Additionally, meta-regression and subgroup analyses were perfomed to investigate possible sources of heterogeneity. The outliers were identified using the leave-one-out method and assessed publication bias using funnel plots, Egger’s test, and a contour-enhanced funnel plot. Results A total of 2300 studies were identified through database searches, and 36 were included for analyses. The meta-analysis results showed lower mean IL-4 levels in severe malaria (434 cases) than in uncomplicated malaria (611 cases) (P = 0.01, pooled MD: −3.36 pg/mL, 95% confidence intervals CI −5.55 to −1.16 pg/mL, I2: 98.15%, 11 studies). The meta-analysis results showed no difference in mean IL-4 levels between cerebral malaria (96 cases) and noncerebral severe malaria (108 cases) (P = 0.71, pooled MD: 0.86 pg/mL, 95% CI −3.60 to 5.32 pg/mL, I2 92.13%, four studies). Finally, no difference was found in mean IL-4 levels between uncomplicated malaria (635 cases) and healthy controls (674 cases) (P = 0.57, pooled MD: 0.79 pg/mL, 95% CI −1.92 to 3.50 pg/mL, I2: 99.89%, 11 studies). Conclusion The meta-analysis revealed lower IL-4 levels in patients with severe malaria than in those with uncomplicated malaria, though a trend toward comparable IL-4 levels between both groups was more likely because several sources of heterogeneities were observed. Based on the limited number of studies included in the meta-analysis, until additional investigations have been conducted, IL-4 consideration as an alternative prognostic factor for malaria severity is not warranted. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12936-022-04237-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwuntida Uthaisar Kotepui
- Medical Technology Program, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Tha Sala, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
| | - Phiman Thirarattanasunthon
- Public Health Program, School of Public Health, Walailak University, Tha Sala, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
| | - Pongruj Rattaprasert
- Department of Protozoology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Manas Kotepui
- Medical Technology Program, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Tha Sala, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand.
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Popa GL, Popa MI. Recent Advances in Understanding the Inflammatory Response in Malaria: A Review of the Dual Role of Cytokines. J Immunol Res 2021; 2021:7785180. [PMID: 34790829 DOI: 10.1155/2021/7785180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is a serious and, in some unfortunate cases, fatal disease caused by a parasite of the Plasmodium genus. It predominantly occurs in tropical areas where it is transmitted through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito. The pathogenesis of malaria is complex and incompletely elucidated. During blood-stage infection, in response to the presence of the parasite, the host's immune system produces proinflammatory cytokines including IL-6, IL-8, IFN-γ, and TNF, cytokines which play a pivotal role in controlling the growth of the parasite and its elimination. Regulatory cytokines such as transforming growth factor- (TGF-) β and IL-10 maintain the balance between the proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses. However, in many cases, cytokines have a double role. On the one hand, they contribute to parasitic clearance, and on the other, they are responsible for pathological changes encountered in malaria. Cytokine-modulating strategies may represent a promising modern approach in disease management. In this review, we discuss the host immune response in malaria, analyzing the latest studies on the roles of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines.
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Wu X, Thylur RP, Dayanand KK, Punnath K, Norbury CC, Gowda DC. IL-4 Treatment Mitigates Experimental Cerebral Malaria by Reducing Parasitemia, Dampening Inflammation, and Lessening the Cytotoxicity of T Cells. J Immunol 2020; 206:118-131. [PMID: 33239419 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2000779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Cytokine responses to malaria play important roles in both protective immunity development and pathogenesis. Although the roles of cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-12, IFN-γ, and IL-10 in immunity and pathogenesis to the blood stage malaria are largely known, the role of IL-4 remains less understood. IL-4 targets many cell types and induces multiple effects, including cell proliferation, gene expression, protection from apoptosis, and immune regulation. Accordingly, IL-4 has been exploited as a therapeutic for several inflammatory diseases. Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum manifests in many organ-specific fatal pathologies, including cerebral malaria (CM), driven by a high parasite load, leading to parasite sequestration in organs and consequent excessive inflammatory responses and endothelial damage. We investigated the therapeutic potential of IL-4 against fatal malaria in Plasmodium berghei ANKA-infected C57BL/6J mice, an experimental CM model. IL-4 treatment significantly reduced parasitemia, CM pathology, and mortality. The therapeutic effect of IL-4 is mediated through multiple mechanisms, including enhanced parasite clearance mediated by upregulation of phagocytic receptors and increased IgM production, and decreased brain inflammatory responses, including reduced chemokine (CXCL10) production, reduced chemokine receptor (CXCR3) and adhesion molecule (LFA-1) expression by T cells, and downregulation of cytotoxic T cell lytic potential. IL-4 treatment markedly reduced the infiltration of CD8+ T cells and brain pathology. STAT6, PI3K-Akt-NF-κB, and Src signaling mediated the cellular and molecular events that contributed to the IL-4-dependent decrease in parasitemia. Overall, our results provide mechanistic insights into how IL-4 treatment mitigates experimental CM and have implications in developing treatment strategies for organ-specific fatal malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianzhu Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033; and
| | - Ramesh P Thylur
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033; and
| | - Kiran K Dayanand
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033; and
| | - Kishore Punnath
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033; and
| | - Christopher C Norbury
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033
| | - D Channe Gowda
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033; and
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Eini P, Majzoobi MM, Ghasemi Basir HR, Moosavi Z, Moradi A. Comparison of the serum level of interleukin-4 in patients with brucellosis and healthy controls. J Clin Lab Anal 2020; 34:e23267. [PMID: 32100374 PMCID: PMC7370742 DOI: 10.1002/jcla.23267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Evaluation of cytokines such as interleukin-4 (IL-4) can be an important tool in examining immune responses to brucellosis. Also, determining the response rate to treatment is necessary for controlling and eradicating of disease. The review of previous studies reveals contradictory results that require further research in this regard. The aim of this study was to compare the serum level of IL-4 in patients with brucellosis and healthy controls. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this descriptive-analytical study for comparison of two groups, a total of 165 participants, including 83 patients with brucellosis and 82 non-infected people, were evaluated after matching of sex and age in Hamadan (northwest of Iran) in 2017 and the serum level of IL-4 was compared by ELISA method. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS software version 21 at 95% significant level. RESULTS Mean of age in the case and control groups were 50.25 ± 16.01 and 43.26 ± 15.6 years, respectively. The serum levels of IL-4 in the case and control groups were 1.42 ± 0.51 pg/mL and 1.31 ± 1.02 pg/mL, respectively. Based on the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test, the IL-4 level was significantly higher in the case group, compared with the control (P < .001), but no statistically significant relationship was found between serum levels of IL-4 with age, sex, and serologic titers of Wright and 2ME. CONCLUSION In patients with brucellosis, the level of IL-4 increases independently of the duration and severity of the disease, which indicates the role of this cytokine of immune system in this infectious disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peyman Eini
- Brucellosis Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | | | - Hamid Reza Ghasemi Basir
- Department of Pathology, School of medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Zahra Moosavi
- Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Abbas Moradi
- Department of Community Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
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