Suppression of Cell-Mediated Immune Responses to Malaria Antigens in Pregnant Gambian Women

Immune response to Plasmodium falciparum antigens in Cameroonian primigravidae: evolution after delivery and during second pregnancy

“…Thus, the alteration of malaria immunity might rather fall into the general frame of the depression of cellular immunity during pregnancy than involve a malaria-specific phenomenon. This suppression of the IL-2 responses is in agreement with the hypothesis of a transient depression of Th1 immunity during pregnancy [3,4]. However, this suppression of the IL-2 response was not paralleled by a reduction of the IFN-g response, suggesting that T cells from the Th1 subset might be differentially affected by the pregnancyrelated immunosuppression.…”

“…However, in the present study, the cellular and humoral responses of parasitaemic and non-parasitaemic women were similar (data not shown), demonstrating that the suppression of selected immune responses during pregnancy is not primarily due to the higher infection rate of pregnant women. Riley et al [4] suggested that the pregnancy-induced immunosuppression may persist several months after delivery, as they did not observe differences in cellular responses to malaria antigens 14 weeks after delivery. Conversely, a longitudinal study conducted during and after pregnancy showed that the lymphocyte transformation results after stimulation with antigens, such as purified protein derivative (PPD) or Candida albicans, were depressed towards the end of pregnancy but were increased again 3-5 months after delivery [28].…”

“…944-959 (EENVEHDA) 4 T þ B * Position according to [17]. † The sequences are given in one-letter code.…”

“…Hitherto, the mechanisms responsible for this increase in malaria susceptibility during pregnancy, and in particular during the first pregnancy, have not been elucidated. Indeed, pregnancy has been shown to be associated with a general immunosuppression [3], being more marked in primigravidae [4]. Pregnancy is characterized by a transient depression of cell-mediated immunity of the mother that allows fetal allograft retention, but also interferes with resistance of the mother to various infectious diseases.…”

Interactions Between Natural Killer Cells, Cortisol and Prolactin in Malaria During Pregnancy

“…1 In areas where malaria is highly endemic, a protective semi-immunity against P. falciparum is acquired during the first 10-15 years of life with the majority of malaria-related morbidity and mortality happening in young children. 66 However, in contrast with low malaria prevalence in adults, pregnant women in endemic areas are highly susceptible to malaria. 1 In pregnancy, there is a transient depression of cell-mediated immunity that allows fetal allograft retention but also interferes with resistance to various infectious diseases.…”