EFFECT OF PRO-INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES (IFN-γ AND IL-12) IN MALARIA INFECTION IN “AA” AND “AS” SUBJECTS IN ENUGU METROPOLIS, SOUTH-EAST NIGERIA. DOES GENDER PLAY ANY ROLE?

摘要

The present study was aimed at investigating the relationship between somecytokines and malaria infection in subjects of AA and AS Hbgenotypes in Enugu metropolis, South-East Nigeria. A total of 207 subjects aged 20-70 years wererecruited for the study and divided into 4 groups. Blood samples were collected from each patient fromthe ante-cubital vein without venous stasis. Determination of Hb genotype was done electrophoretically,while quantitation of parasites and estimation of parasite density were done microscopically. Estimationof and IL-12 in serum was carried out using ELISA kit (Enzo Life Sciences, U.S.A). Data wereanalyzed using Graph Pad Prism version 5 and SPSS version 20 computer software at 95 confidencelevel and results are expressed as mean ± SEM. A comparison of the test groups showed that AA testgroup had significantly higher MP density (3,906 ± 436.5 parasites/µl of blood ) than AS test group(1,293 ± 179 parasites/µl of blood) (P0.0001).g/ml) (14.36 ± 0.56 pg/ml) compared to AS test group (10.69 ± 0.40 pg/ml). IL-12 however wassignificantly decreased (P0.05) in AA test subjects (13.93 ± 0.62 pg/ml) compared to the AS testsubjects (23.55 ± 1.20 pg/ml). All the assayed cytokines were significantly higher (P0.05) in the testsubjects compared to the control. MP density however showed significant negative correlation (r=-0.3198; P=0.0389) with IL-12 in AS test subjects.nd AS test subjects. There was also no correlation between gender and the cytokinesin both AA test subjects (r=0.085, P=0.578) IL-12 (r= -0.091, P=0.552) and AS test subjects(r=0.000, P=0.998) IL-12 (r=0.019, P=0.904). The low IL-12 in AA test subjects must have led toprogression of the disease, whereas the high IL-12 in AS test subjects must have led to increasedresolution of the disease. The present study shows that pro-inflammatory cytokines actually contributeto P. falciparum malaria outcome in AA and resolution AS subjects in Enugu metropolis. The protectiveeffect of sickle cell trait may be linked to the levels of IL-12. However, gender played no role.