Plasma cytokine profiles associated with rhodesiense sleeping sickness and falciparum malaria co-infection in North Eastern Uganda
Abstract Background Immunological Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) studies often exclude malaria, although both infections overlap in specific endemic areas. During this co-infection, it is not known whether this parasitic interaction induces synergistic or antagonistic cytokine response among hu...
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doaj-643f06adabfa4f72b17b8090c296d8202020-11-25T03:05:59ZengBMCAllergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology1710-14922019-10-0115111310.1186/s13223-019-0377-7Plasma cytokine profiles associated with rhodesiense sleeping sickness and falciparum malaria co-infection in North Eastern UgandaJulius Nsubuga0Charles Drago Kato1Ann Nanteza2Enock Matovu3Vincent Pius Alibu4College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources & Bio-security, Makerere UniversityCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources & Bio-security, Makerere UniversityCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources & Bio-security, Makerere UniversityCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources & Bio-security, Makerere UniversityCollege of Natural Sciences, Makerere UniversityAbstract Background Immunological Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) studies often exclude malaria, although both infections overlap in specific endemic areas. During this co-infection, it is not known whether this parasitic interaction induces synergistic or antagonistic cytokine response among humans. This study determined prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum malaria among Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense HAT and plasma cytokine profile levels associated with HAT and/or malaria infections. Methods Participants were recruited at Lwala hospital in north eastern Uganda: healthy controls (30), malaria (28), HAT (17), HAT and malaria (15) diagnosed by microscopy and PCR was carried out for parasite species identification. Plasma cytokine levels of Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), Tumour Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10 and Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-β) were measured by sandwich Enzyme-Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay and data statistically analysed using Graphpad Prism 6.0. Results The prevalence of P. falciparum malaria among T. rhodesiense HAT cases was high (46.8%). Malaria and/or HAT cases presented significant higher plasma cytokine levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10 and TGF-β than healthy controls (P < 0.05). Levels of IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-10 were significantly elevated in HAT over malaria (P < 0.05) but no significant difference in TNF-α and TGF-β between HAT and malaria (P > 0.05). Co-infection expressed significantly higher plasma IFN-γ, IL-6, and IL-10 levels than malaria (P < 0.05) but no significant difference with HAT mono-infection (P > 0.05). The TNF-α level was significantly elevated in co-infection over HAT or malaria mono-infections (P < 0.05) unlike TGF-β level. Significant positive correlations were identified between IFN-γ verses TNF-α and IL-6 verses IL-10 in co-infection (Spearman’s P < 0.05). Conclusions The T. b. rhodesiense significantly induced the cytokine response more than P. falciparum infections. Co-infection led to synergistic stimulation of pro-inflammatory (IFN-γ, TNF-α), and anti-inflammatory (IL-6, and IL-10) cytokine responses relative to malaria mono-infection. Level of TNF-α partially indicates the effect induced by T. b. rhodesiense and P. falciparum mono-infections or a synergistic interaction of co-infections which may have adverse effects on pathogenesis, prognosis and resolution of the infections. Trial registration VCD-IRC/021, 26/08/2011; HS 1089, 16/01/2012http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13223-019-0377-7HATMalariaCo-infectionMono-infectionCytokineIFN-γ |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Julius Nsubuga Charles Drago Kato Ann Nanteza Enock Matovu Vincent Pius Alibu |
spellingShingle |
Julius Nsubuga Charles Drago Kato Ann Nanteza Enock Matovu Vincent Pius Alibu Plasma cytokine profiles associated with rhodesiense sleeping sickness and falciparum malaria co-infection in North Eastern Uganda Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology HAT Malaria Co-infection Mono-infection Cytokine IFN-γ |
author_facet |
Julius Nsubuga Charles Drago Kato Ann Nanteza Enock Matovu Vincent Pius Alibu |
author_sort |
Julius Nsubuga |
title |
Plasma cytokine profiles associated with rhodesiense sleeping sickness and falciparum malaria co-infection in North Eastern Uganda |
title_short |
Plasma cytokine profiles associated with rhodesiense sleeping sickness and falciparum malaria co-infection in North Eastern Uganda |
title_full |
Plasma cytokine profiles associated with rhodesiense sleeping sickness and falciparum malaria co-infection in North Eastern Uganda |
title_fullStr |
Plasma cytokine profiles associated with rhodesiense sleeping sickness and falciparum malaria co-infection in North Eastern Uganda |
title_full_unstemmed |
Plasma cytokine profiles associated with rhodesiense sleeping sickness and falciparum malaria co-infection in North Eastern Uganda |
title_sort |
plasma cytokine profiles associated with rhodesiense sleeping sickness and falciparum malaria co-infection in north eastern uganda |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology |
issn |
1710-1492 |
publishDate |
2019-10-01 |
description |
Abstract Background Immunological Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) studies often exclude malaria, although both infections overlap in specific endemic areas. During this co-infection, it is not known whether this parasitic interaction induces synergistic or antagonistic cytokine response among humans. This study determined prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum malaria among Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense HAT and plasma cytokine profile levels associated with HAT and/or malaria infections. Methods Participants were recruited at Lwala hospital in north eastern Uganda: healthy controls (30), malaria (28), HAT (17), HAT and malaria (15) diagnosed by microscopy and PCR was carried out for parasite species identification. Plasma cytokine levels of Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), Tumour Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10 and Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-β) were measured by sandwich Enzyme-Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay and data statistically analysed using Graphpad Prism 6.0. Results The prevalence of P. falciparum malaria among T. rhodesiense HAT cases was high (46.8%). Malaria and/or HAT cases presented significant higher plasma cytokine levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10 and TGF-β than healthy controls (P < 0.05). Levels of IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-10 were significantly elevated in HAT over malaria (P < 0.05) but no significant difference in TNF-α and TGF-β between HAT and malaria (P > 0.05). Co-infection expressed significantly higher plasma IFN-γ, IL-6, and IL-10 levels than malaria (P < 0.05) but no significant difference with HAT mono-infection (P > 0.05). The TNF-α level was significantly elevated in co-infection over HAT or malaria mono-infections (P < 0.05) unlike TGF-β level. Significant positive correlations were identified between IFN-γ verses TNF-α and IL-6 verses IL-10 in co-infection (Spearman’s P < 0.05). Conclusions The T. b. rhodesiense significantly induced the cytokine response more than P. falciparum infections. Co-infection led to synergistic stimulation of pro-inflammatory (IFN-γ, TNF-α), and anti-inflammatory (IL-6, and IL-10) cytokine responses relative to malaria mono-infection. Level of TNF-α partially indicates the effect induced by T. b. rhodesiense and P. falciparum mono-infections or a synergistic interaction of co-infections which may have adverse effects on pathogenesis, prognosis and resolution of the infections. Trial registration VCD-IRC/021, 26/08/2011; HS 1089, 16/01/2012 |
topic |
HAT Malaria Co-infection Mono-infection Cytokine IFN-γ |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13223-019-0377-7 |
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