T-Helper 4 and Cytotoxic T-Lymphocites, Interleukin- 4 and 10 in HIV-Seropositive Patients with Uncomplicated Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria.

Abstract

Background and Aim: The biological functions of anti-inflammatory cytokines appear to be crucial in the immune response. The aim of this study is to determine the levels of the anti-inflammatory (IL-4 and IL-10) cytokine response in malaria HIV and HIV-malaria coinfected individuals with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Methods: Levels of IL-4 and IL-10 of 111 malaria-infected, 97 HIV-malaria co-infected and 79 HIV seropositive subjects as well as 73 controls were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. CD4 and CD8 cells were counted using the Dynabeads T4-T8 quantification protocol while haematological parameters were estimated using standard haematological techniques. Results: IL-4 and IL-10 levels were significantly higher in malaria patients (8.18±6.41pg⁄ml and 26.29±12.08pg⁄ml) than in HIV (5.208±1.69pg⁄ml) or HIV-malaria (4.415±3.23pg⁄ml) coinfected subjects (P‹0.05). On the other hand, the mean CD4 and CD8 counts (1434±331.05 and 2003±405.73 cells⁄μl respectively) of malaria infected individuals were significantly elevated (P‹0.05) as compared to HIV, HIV-malaria and control groups. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that malaria antigen may initiate a higher anti-inflammatory cytokine response than HIV or HIV associated with malaria.