SERUM CONCENTRATIONS OF MIP-1-ALPHA AND INTERLEUKIN-8 IN PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM ACUTE PLASMODIUM-FALCIPARUM MALARIA

The chemokines are a superfamily of small proteins secreted primarily by leukocytes and related by a conserved four-cystein motif. In the pr esent study we investigated the serum levels of macrophage inflammator y protein 1 alpha (MIP-1 alpha) and interleukin-8 (IL-8). MIP-1 alpha is a neutrophil chemotactic protein important in acute and chronic inf lammation. Recent studies demonstrated that MIP-1 alpha may also act a s potent inhibitor of hemopoetic stem cell proliferation, which may be important in the development of prolonged anemia in patients sufferin g from Plasmodium falciparum malaria. IL-8 serum concentrations correl ate with severity and outcome of infectious diseases. Moreover, recent reports indicate that IL-8 plays a major role in fatal gram-negative sepsis. It was the aim of this study to investigate the time course of MIP-1 alpha and IL-8 concentrations in patients suffering from acute P. falciparum infection. Blood samples of 20 patients suffering from s evere P. falciparum malaria were investigated. MIP-1 alpha and IL-8 co ncentrations were determined using ELISA technique at admission, on Da ys 7, 14, 21, and 28. Maximal concentrations of MIP-1 alpha and IL-8 w ere found on Day 14, at a time when parasites were not detected in the smears. The serum levels of IL-8 on the day of admission were correla ted to the parasite count. No correlation was seen between the hematok rit values and the MIP-1 alpha concentrations at any time. (C) 1995 Ac ademic Press, Inc.