Immunological disturbances associated with malarial infection

Abstract

Malaria is a reemerging disease in the countries where it was eradicated previously, whereas it is endemic in many countries including tropical countries. In India, malarial infection is on rise due to rapid urbanization and overcrowding in all major metropolitan cities. The incidence of morbidity and mortality due to malaria infection is increasing and could be attributed to drug resistance in strains of malarial parasite. Combining immune modulation strategies with anti-malarial drugs has a beneficial effect in an attempt to improve treatment for malaria. Along with clinical presentation and outcome of this parasitic infection, it is important to understand immunological disturbances associated with biological mechanisms underlying these actions in better understanding of pathogenesis of malarial infection. Immune and inflammatory responses in malarial infection are controlled and co-ordinated by various cytokines and chemokines. This review focuses on commonly seen immunological disturbances associated with malarial infection resulting in related humoral and cell mediated immune functions primarily with innate to subsequent adaptive immunity in tackling this parasitic infection.

Exposure to Plasmodium vivax is associated with the increased expression of exhaustion markers on γδ T lymphocytes

“…However, increases in the proinflammatory cytokines produced by γδ T cells and other immune cells in response to the parasite have been suggested to be associated with the immunopathology of malaria. 25,26 Usually, the activation of immune cells in response to invading pathogens is optimally regulated to avoid immunopathology in the host. During P. vivax infection, elevated levels of circulating regulatory T cells (Tregs) and impaired myeloid dendritic cell (mDC) maturation dampen the inflammatory response.…”

“…Consequently, γδ T cells play an important role in protection against Plasmodium . However, increases in the proinflammatory cytokines produced by γδ T cells and other immune cells in response to the parasite have been suggested to be associated with the immunopathology of malaria . Usually, the activation of immune cells in response to invading pathogens is optimally regulated to avoid immunopathology in the host.…”

Geographic location determines beta‐cell autoimmunity among adult Ghanaians: Findings from the RODAM study

“…35,36 Moreover, infections with parasites, such as Plasmodium sp., are known to initiate autoimmune responses in previously nonautoimmune individuals. 37 The effect of an infectious environment on the production of autoantibodies was elegantly illustrated by the prevalence of antinuclear autoantibodies (ANA) among migrants from Nigeria and Ghana to Italy. 20 These individuals showed significantly higher ANA concentrations than the Italian reference population, but the prevalence strongly decreased after longer length of residence in Italy (≥8 years).…”

Do advanced glycation end-products play a role in malaria susceptibility?

“…The magnitudes of innate as well as the type of adaptive immune responses are strongly influenced by the cellular expression of RAGE in immune effector cells [ 1 ]. T helper 2 ( Th2 ) cytokine production, which is frequently downregulated in T cells expressing RAGE, is critical for host defense against blood stage malaria [ 55 ].…”