Pro- and anti-inflammatory immune response profiling prevents severe malaria among Nigerians infected with Plasmodium falciparum: the future for malaria vaccines and therapeutics.

Abstract Background Available evidence indicates that the various stages of the malaria parasite life cycle have specific immune responses. The pro-inflammatory cytokines tend to play an important role in preventing malaria and killing the parasites. Furthermore, the relative levels of pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines are essential mediators of malaria anemia production and outcomes. Natural human immune responses to malaria recognize extracellular sporozoites and merozoites, both of which have surface-exposed antigens, and which are currently being developed for various vaccines. Methods A total of four hundred sixty- two (462) participants were tested for Plasmodium falciparum. The procedure employed were parasite staining using World Health Organization parasitology laboratory protocol [Microscopy] of Giemsa staining and Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]. Results The subjects in this study showed high levels of INF-γ and TNF-α which decreases with increased malaria severity and high parasite density. These results suggest that INF-γ cytokine and TNF-α may contribute to protection against severe malaria anaemia and parasite clearance. Conversely, infected participants showed higher levels of IL-10, which decreases with severe malaria parasite, furthermore IL-10 levels correlated with parasite density. These findings suggest that higher levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines, especially IL-10 levels may contribute to pathogenesis of complicated malaria by inhibiting the INF-γ and TNF-α production. Conclusion Molecular biological and other serological analysis are needed to elucidate the implication of these cytokines and other pro-inflammatory cytokines as IL-17, IL-21 and IL-22 in the responses to malaria and consequently their involvement in malaria vaccine construct/development as well as other therapeutics for the treatment and elimination of the malaria parasite in our environment.