Placental malaria and modulation of immune and hormonal responses in Cameroonian women

• Published in: Acta tropica 2015-07, Vol.147, p.23-30
• Main Authors: Megnekou, Rosette, Tenou, Sandrine, Bigoga, Jude D., Djontu, Jean Claude, Medou, Fabrice Mbah, Lissom, Abel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Cameroon; Cholesterol, HDL - metabolism; Cholesterol, LDL - metabolism; Cytokines; Cytokines - immunology; Estradiol - metabolism; Female; Hemoglobins; Hormones; Humans; Hypertriglyceridemia - metabolism; Infant, Low Birth Weight; Infant, Newborn; Interferon-gamma - immunology; Interleukin-1beta - immunology; Interleukin-7 - immunology; Lipids; Malaria - immunology; Malaria - metabolism; Parasitemia - immunology; Parasitemia - metabolism; Parity; Placenta - immunology; Placenta - metabolism; Placenta - parasitology; Placental malaria; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic - immunology; Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic - metabolism; Pregnancy Outcome; Pregnancy outcomes; Progesterone - metabolism; Prognosis; Women; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0001-706X; 1873-6254
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.04.001

High plasma level of IL-7 and IFN-γ may be associated with protection against placental malaria. In addition, the low birth weight associated to the disease can be partly caused by the decrease of progesterone blood level coupled to that of HDL-C. •IFN-γ and IL-7 protect against poor pregnancy outcomes associated to PM.•IFN-γ may also have anti-atherogenic effect in relation to PAM.•IFN-γ and IL-7 may act differently with regards to progesterone and some lipids.•Levels of progesterone and HDL-C increased with baby birth weight.•PM associated with hypocholestelemia and hypertriglyceridemia, risk factors for cardiovascular disorders. Adverse pregnancy outcomes place the lives of mother and new born babies in jeopardy, especially in Sub Saharan Africa. Although a well-balanced network of the pregnancy-associated hormones and lipid fractions is necessary for healthy pregnancy, the profiles of some of these biomarkers alongside those of some cytokines in relation to placental malaria (PM) and poor pregnancy outcomes are unknown. Therefore between 2013 and 2014, paired peripheral and placental blood samples were collected from 135 Cameroonian women at delivery. Parasitaemia was determined microscopically and haemoglobin levels using Coulter counter. Plasma levels of cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-1β and IL-7) and pregnancy-associated hormones (17β oestradiol and progesterone) were measured by ELISA and the levels of lipid fractions: total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) determined by Colorimetric enzymatic methods. Parasitaemia was inversely related to parity, haemoglobin levels and birth weight (P≤0.019). While the levels of IFN-γ and cholesterol (total, HDL and LDL) were higher in peripheral plasma, those of IL-1β, 17β oestradiol, progesterone and triglyceride were higher in placental blood (P