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An immuno-inflammatory profiling of asymptomatic individuals in a malaria endemic area in Uganda

Saleh, Bandar Hasan LU ; Lugaajju, Allan LU ; Tijani, Muyideen Kolapo LU ; Danielsson, Lena LU ; Morris, Ulrika and Persson, Kristina E.M. LU (2024) In Acta Tropica 260.
Abstract

Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum leads to the destruction of red blood cells (RBCs). A better understanding of how naturally immune individuals control infections should be valuable for future vaccine studies. Antibodies against RBCs and RBC surface antigens were measured together with different inflammatory markers in healthy adults living in a malaria endemic area of Uganda and compared to Swedish healthy adults. Antibodies binding to RBCs were clearly elevated in Ugandans compared to Swedish samples, and for RBC surface antigens the Ugandans had higher levels of antibodies against JMH, but not against Cromer or Kell. Twenty-eight percent of the Ugandans were PCR-positive for P. falciparum, and these had higher levels of IgG... (More)

Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum leads to the destruction of red blood cells (RBCs). A better understanding of how naturally immune individuals control infections should be valuable for future vaccine studies. Antibodies against RBCs and RBC surface antigens were measured together with different inflammatory markers in healthy adults living in a malaria endemic area of Uganda and compared to Swedish healthy adults. Antibodies binding to RBCs were clearly elevated in Ugandans compared to Swedish samples, and for RBC surface antigens the Ugandans had higher levels of antibodies against JMH, but not against Cromer or Kell. Twenty-eight percent of the Ugandans were PCR-positive for P. falciparum, and these had higher levels of IgG against parasite extract and more inhibition in functional growth/invasion assays, but levels of antibodies against RBC, RBC surface antigens, results from Direct Antiglobulin Tests (DAT) and indirect antiglobulin tests were similar when compared with PCR-negative individuals. When inflammatory markers (α-1-antitrypsin, haptoglobin, orosomucoid/α-1-acid glycoprotein, CRP, IgG, IgA and IgM) were measured there were in general almost no signs of inflammation except for clearly elevated levels of IgG. Some had low levels of haptoglobin and for orosomucoid more than half of the individuals had clearly reduced levels. There was no correlation between the inflammatory markers and PCR-positivity, antibodies against RBCs or parasites. In conclusion, for healthy adults living in a malaria endemic area, there was a clear presence of antibodies against RBCs in parallel with high levels of IgG and almost no signs of inflammation, even though many individuals were carrying parasites.

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author
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type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Autoantibody, Inflammation, Malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, Red blood cells
in
Acta Tropica
volume
260
article number
107446
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:39488329
  • scopus:85208180968
ISSN
0001-706X
DOI
10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107446
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
2c166087-2e4b-444b-84d3-a6abf42468df
date added to LUP
2024-12-04 09:43:55
date last changed
2025-07-31 05:47:22
@article{2c166087-2e4b-444b-84d3-a6abf42468df,
  abstract     = {{<p>Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum leads to the destruction of red blood cells (RBCs). A better understanding of how naturally immune individuals control infections should be valuable for future vaccine studies. Antibodies against RBCs and RBC surface antigens were measured together with different inflammatory markers in healthy adults living in a malaria endemic area of Uganda and compared to Swedish healthy adults. Antibodies binding to RBCs were clearly elevated in Ugandans compared to Swedish samples, and for RBC surface antigens the Ugandans had higher levels of antibodies against JMH, but not against Cromer or Kell. Twenty-eight percent of the Ugandans were PCR-positive for P. falciparum, and these had higher levels of IgG against parasite extract and more inhibition in functional growth/invasion assays, but levels of antibodies against RBC, RBC surface antigens, results from Direct Antiglobulin Tests (DAT) and indirect antiglobulin tests were similar when compared with PCR-negative individuals. When inflammatory markers (α-1-antitrypsin, haptoglobin, orosomucoid/α-1-acid glycoprotein, CRP, IgG, IgA and IgM) were measured there were in general almost no signs of inflammation except for clearly elevated levels of IgG. Some had low levels of haptoglobin and for orosomucoid more than half of the individuals had clearly reduced levels. There was no correlation between the inflammatory markers and PCR-positivity, antibodies against RBCs or parasites. In conclusion, for healthy adults living in a malaria endemic area, there was a clear presence of antibodies against RBCs in parallel with high levels of IgG and almost no signs of inflammation, even though many individuals were carrying parasites.</p>}},
  author       = {{Saleh, Bandar Hasan and Lugaajju, Allan and Tijani, Muyideen Kolapo and Danielsson, Lena and Morris, Ulrika and Persson, Kristina E.M.}},
  issn         = {{0001-706X}},
  keywords     = {{Autoantibody; Inflammation; Malaria; Plasmodium falciparum; Red blood cells}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Acta Tropica}},
  title        = {{An immuno-inflammatory profiling of asymptomatic individuals in a malaria endemic area in Uganda}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107446}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107446}},
  volume       = {{260}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}