MALARIA IN PREGNANCY AND ROLE OF REGULATORY T CELLS (CD4+CD25-IL10+) IN
GHANAIAN MOTHERS
Abstract
Introduction: The T-cell subset (CD4+Tregs) play a significant
role in immunoregulation, by active suppression of the immune system,
through cell-to-cell contact and the secretion of IL10. The frequencies
of these cell subpopulations were investigated in the mother.
Methods: The study recruited 61 mothers out of this number, 31
mothers with plasmodium parasitized placentas and 30 mothers
without plasmodium infection. Placental malaria positivity was
determined by PCR and microscopy. Peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMCs)
were isolated from peripheral blood, cultured in the presence of VAR2CSA
antigen, and stained with antibodies (CD3, CD4, CD25, and IL-10), before
cytometry analysis. Results: The CD4+CD25+ T cell frequencies
were significantly higher in all the participants (p<0.0001),
and comparable across gravida. These cell populations were similar when
compared between primigravid and secumgravida mothers (p=0.77), and
between multigravida and secumgravida mothers (p=0.84). Primigravid
mothers with placental malaria had significantly higher frequencies of
CD4+CD25+ T cell population (p=0.04). The frequencies of CD4+IL10 were
significantly high in both primigravid and multigravid mothers who were
placental malaria positive (p=0.03) and (p=0.04) respectively.
Conclusion: Induced Tregs (CD4+IL10) cells could play a role in
placental malaria susceptibility due to an increase in their populations
in mothers with plasmodium-infected placentas.