Bouyou-Akotet Marielle K, Issifou Saadou, Meye Jean F, Kombila Maryvonne, Ngou-Milama Edouard, Luty Adrian J F, Kremsner Peter G, Mavoungou Elie
Medical Research Unit, Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Lambaréné.
Clin Infect Dis. 2004 Feb 1;38(3):342-7. doi: 10.1086/380646. Epub 2004 Jan 13.
We measured natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity and cortisol and prolactin concentrations in peripheral venous blood samples obtained from pregnant Gabonese women at the time of delivery. The NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity against Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes in vitro was lower in samples obtained from primiparous women than in samples obtained from multiparous women; cortisol concentrations were significantly higher in primiparous women than in multiparous women, and prolactin concentrations were significantly lower. The highest cortisol concentrations were found in the plasma of P. falciparum-infected primiparous women. A positive correlation was found between cortisol concentration and parasite load; an inverse correlation was found between the magnitude of the NK cell cytolytic effect and cortisol production. A positive correlation was found between this effect and prolactin production. Thus, depressed NK cell cytotoxicity against P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes is correlated with high cortisol concentrations and may contribute to increased susceptibility to malaria during pregnancy.
我们检测了分娩时从加蓬孕妇外周静脉血样本中获取的自然杀伤（NK）细胞细胞毒性以及皮质醇和催乳素的浓度。初产妇样本中体外NK细胞对恶性疟原虫感染红细胞的细胞毒性低于经产妇样本；初产妇的皮质醇浓度显著高于经产妇，而催乳素浓度则显著较低。恶性疟原虫感染的初产妇血浆中皮质醇浓度最高。皮质醇浓度与寄生虫负荷之间呈正相关；NK细胞溶细胞效应的强度与皮质醇产生之间呈负相关。这种效应与催乳素产生之间呈正相关。因此，NK细胞对恶性疟原虫感染红细胞的细胞毒性降低与高皮质醇浓度相关，可能导致孕期对疟疾易感性增加。
