DECREASED SERUM LEVELS OF TCF-BETA IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE PLASMODIUM-FALCIPARUM MALARIA

Apart from cellular immunity and immunopathology, various cytokines ha ve been implicated in malaria-associated immunosuppression. In this st udy, serum levels of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) were d etermined with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 37 patients wit h acute Plasmodium falciparum malaria prior to, during, and after ther apy and in 17 healthy controls in Bangkok, Thailand. Patients were tre ated with artesunate and mefloquine. TGF-beta serum levels were found decreased prior to treatment (14 +/- 11 pg/ml versus 63 +/- 15 pg/ml i n healthy controls; P < 0.05). The serum concentrations of TGF-beta in creased after initiation of treatment and were within normal range on day 21. Serum levels of both tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) a nd soluble TNF-receptor 55 kDa were inversely correlated to serum leve ls of TGF-beta (r = -0.667 and r = -0.592, n = 37; respectively, P < 0 .05 for both). No correlation between parasitemia and serum levels of TGF-beta could be found. The results are compatible with a decreased p roduction and release, an enhanced clearance or utilization, or tissue accumulation of TGF-beta in acute P. falciparum malaria.