ELEVATED SERUM LEVELS OF IL-10 AND IFN-GAMMA IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE PLASMODIUM-FALCIPARUM MALARIA

Serum levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma ) were determined in 37 patients with acute Plasmodium falciparum mala ria in Bangkok, Thailand. Serum levels of IL-10 and IFN-gamma were mar kedly elevated in patients with malaria prior to treatment (717 +/- 26 0 pg/ml versus 2.2 +/- 1.3 pg/ml in healthy controls; 123 +/- 71 pg/ml versus 29 +/- 9 pg/ml, respectively; mean +/- SD). Serum levels of IF N-gamma and IL-10 dropped significantly during treatment and were norm al 14 and 21 days, respectively, after treatment was started. Prior to therapy a correlation between serum levels of IFN-gamma and IL-10 exi sted (r = 0.563). These results suggest that stimulatory and inhibitor y cytokines for macrophage activation and/or antibody production (i.e. , TH1- and TH2-type immunoreaction, respectively) are coexpressed duri ng acute P. falciparum infection and stress the multifactorial network between host and parasite in malaria immunology. (C) 1995 Academic Pr ess, Inc.