A preliminary study on pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine profiles in Plasmodium vivax malaria patients from central zone of India

The aim of this preliminary study was to investigate the plasma cytokine profiles in a group of patients suffering from Plasmodium vivax malaria during the peak of its transmission season. Plasma samples of 173 P. vivax patients and 34 healthy individuals were analyzed for IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10 and IP-10 levels by ELISA. Levels of both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were significantly higher in P. vivax patients compared to controls. Children with P. vivax infection had significantly higher levels of IFN-γ than adults (P = 0.017). Asexual parasitaemia versus TNF-α (r = −0.31, P = 0.01), IL-10 (r = −0.30, P = 0.015) and gametocytaemia versus IFN-γ (r = −0.26; P = 0.034) levels showed significant negative correlation in children compared to adults. The median concentrations of IFN-γ (P = 0.001), IL-10 (P = 0.032) and IP-10 (P ≤ 0.05) were higher in children reported with chills and rigors, whereas in adults only IFN-γ levels was higher (P < 0.0001). The median plasma concentrations of IFN- γ (P = 0.02), IL-10 (P < 0.0001) and IP-10 (P = 0.068) were higher in patients with mild anaemia compared to non-anaemic patients. The results indicated that both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine responses are associated with clinical signs of mild anaemia and paroxysm during symptomatic P. vivax malaria in Central India.