Department of Immunogenetics, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan.
Malar J. 2013 Aug 27;12:296. doi: 10.1186/1475-2875-12-296.
Malaria anaemia is still a major public health problem and its pathogenesis still unclear. Interestingly, the progression of anaemia is at relatively low parasitaemia with some mortality in the semi-immune individuals in the endemic areas despite adequate erythropoietin (EPO) synthesis. A recent study has shown that treatment with exogenous anti-erythropoietin (anti-EPO) antibodies (Ab) of infected mice gives protection against malaria infection, suggesting an important role for anti-EPO Ab in malaria. The objective of the study was to evaluate anti-EPO antibody levels in anaemic condition of different strains of semi-immune mice with malaria.
Semi-immune status was attained in four mice strains (Balb/c, B6, CBA and NZW) by repeated infections with 10⁴Plasmodium berghei ANKA, and treatment with chloroquine/pyrimethamine. ELISA was used to measure anti-EPO Ab, transferrin and EPO while inflammatory cytokines measurement was done using bead-based multiplex assay kit.
The mean anti-EPO Ab levels in the mice strains [Optical Density (OD) values at 450 nm: Balb/c (2.1); B6 (1.3); CBA (1.4) and NZW (1.7)] differed (p = 0.045), and were significantly higher when compared with uninfected controls, p < 0.0001, and mean anti-EPO Ab levels in the mice strains at recovery [OD values at 450 nm: Balb/c (1.8); B6 (1.1); CBA (1.5) and NZW (1.0) also differed (p = 0.0004). Interestingly, EPO levels were significantly high in NZW and low in Balb/c mice (p < 0.05), with those of B6 and CBA of intermediary values. Again, NZW were highly parasitaemic (20.7%) and the other strains (Balb/c, B6 and CBA) ranged between 2.2-2.8% (p = 0.015). Anti-EPO Ab correlated positively with extent of Hb loss (r = 0.5861; p = 0.003). Correlation of anti-EPO antibody with EPO was significant only in Balb/c mice (r = -0.83; p = 0.01). Significant levels of IL6 and IFNγ (p < 0.0001), both known to be associated with erythropoiesis suppression were observed in the Balb/c. Transferrin was significantly lower in Balb/c (p < 0.0001) when compared with the other mice strains (B6, CBA and NZW).
This is the first ever report in estimating endogenous anti-EPO antibodies in malaria anaemia. The data presented here suggest that anti-EPO Ab is produced at infection and is associated with Hb loss. Host factors appear to influence anti-EPO antibody levels in the different strains of mice.
疟疾性贫血仍然是一个主要的公共卫生问题,其发病机制仍不清楚。有趣的是,尽管内源性促红细胞生成素(EPO)合成充足,但在流行地区的半免疫个体中,贫血的进展与相对较低的寄生虫血症和一些死亡率有关。最近的一项研究表明,用感染小鼠的外源性抗 EPO(抗-EPO)抗体(Ab)治疗可预防疟疾感染,这表明抗 EPO Ab 在疟疾中具有重要作用。本研究的目的是评估不同株半免疫感染疟原虫小鼠贫血状态下的抗 EPO 抗体水平。
通过重复感染 10⁴ 伯氏疟原虫 ANKA 和氯喹/乙嘧啶,使 4 种小鼠品系(Balb/c、B6、CBA 和 NZW)获得半免疫状态,并进行治疗。使用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)测量抗 EPO Ab、转铁蛋白和 EPO,同时使用基于珠子的多重检测试剂盒测量炎症细胞因子。
小鼠品系的平均抗 EPO Ab 水平[450nm 处的光密度(OD)值:Balb/c(2.1);B6(1.3);CBA(1.4)和 NZW(1.7)]不同(p=0.045),与未感染对照组相比,差异有统计学意义(p<0.0001),恢复时的平均抗 EPO Ab 水平[450nm 处的 OD 值:Balb/c(1.8);B6(1.1);CBA(1.5)和 NZW(1.0)]也不同(p=0.0004)。有趣的是,NZW 中的 EPO 水平显著升高,而 Balb/c 中的 EPO 水平显著降低(p<0.05),B6 和 CBA 的 EPO 水平处于中间值。同样,NZW 的寄生虫血症水平很高(20.7%),而其他品系(Balb/c、B6 和 CBA)的寄生虫血症水平在 2.2-2.8%之间(p=0.015)。抗 EPO Ab 与 Hb 丢失程度呈正相关(r=0.5861;p=0.003)。仅在 Balb/c 小鼠中,抗 EPO 抗体与 EPO 的相关性具有统计学意义(r=-0.83;p=0.01)。在 Balb/c 中观察到显著水平的 IL6 和 IFNγ(p<0.0001),这两种细胞因子都与红细胞生成抑制有关。与其他小鼠品系(B6、CBA 和 NZW)相比,转铁蛋白在 Balb/c 中显著降低(p<0.0001)。
这是首次在疟疾性贫血中估计内源性抗 EPO 抗体。这里提供的数据表明,抗 EPO Ab 在感染时产生,并与 Hb 丢失有关。宿主因素似乎会影响不同小鼠品系的抗 EPO Ab 水平。