Stability of interferon-gamma and interleukin-10 responses to Plasmodium falciparum liver stage antigen-1 and thrombospondin-related adhesive protein in residents of a malaria holoendemic area

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2006 Apr;74(4):585-90.

Abstract

The stability of anti-malarial immunity will influence the interpretation of immunologic endpoints during malaria vaccine trials conducted in endemic areas. Therefore, we evaluated cytokine responses to Plasmodium falciparum liver stage antigen-1 (LSA-1) and thrombospondin-related adhesive protein (TRAP) by Kenyans from a holoendemic area at a 9-month interval. The proportion of adults with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) responses to 9-mer LSA-1 peptides was similar at both time-points, whereas responses from children decreased (P < 0.05). Response to the longer, 23-mer LSA-1 peptide was variable, decreasing in adults and children over time (P < 0.02 and P < 0.001, respectively). The proportion of children with IFN-gamma responses to either antigen at the second time-point was significantly lower than that of adults, yet more adults responded to 9-mer TRAP peptides (P < 0.02). In contrast, the proportion of interleukin-10 responses to LSA-1 and TRAP was similar at both time-points for both age groups. Most noteworthy was that even when the repeat cross-sectional frequency of cytokine responses was the same, these responses were not generated by the same individuals. This suggests that cytokine responses to LSA-1 and TRAP are transient under natural exposure conditions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Protozoan / immunology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Endemic Diseases
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis*
  • Interleukin-10 / biosynthesis*
  • Kenya / epidemiology
  • Malaria Vaccines*
  • Malaria, Falciparum / blood
  • Malaria, Falciparum / epidemiology
  • Malaria, Falciparum / prevention & control*
  • Male
  • Plasmodium falciparum / immunology*
  • Protozoan Proteins / immunology

Substances

  • Antigens, Protozoan
  • Malaria Vaccines
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • liver stage-specific antigen, Plasmodium
  • thrombospondin-related adhesive protein, protozoan
  • Interleukin-10
  • Interferon-gamma