Antibody mediated activation of natural killer cells in malaria exposed pregnant women

Sci Rep. 2021 Feb 18;11(1):4130. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-83093-4.

Abstract

Immune effector responses against Plasmodium falciparum include antibody-mediated activation of innate immune cells, which can induce Fc effector functions, including antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, and the secretion of cytokines and chemokines. These effector functions are regulated by the composition of immunoglobulin G (IgG) Fc N-linked glycans. However, a role for antibody-mediated natural killer (NK) cells activation or Fc N-linked glycans in pregnant women with malaria has not yet been established. Herein, we studied the capacity of IgG antibodies from pregnant women, with placental malaria or non-placental malaria, to induce NK cell activation in response to placental malaria-associated antigens DBL2 and DBL3. Antibody-mediated NK cell activation was observed in pregnant women with malaria, but no differences were associated with susceptibility to placental malaria. Elevated anti-inflammatory glycosylation patterns of IgG antibodies were observed in pregnant women with or without malaria infection, which were not seen in healthy non-pregnant controls. This suggests that pregnancy-associated anti-inflammatory Fc N-linked glycans may dampen the antibody-mediated activation of NK cells in pregnant women with malaria infection. Overall, although anti-inflammatory glycans and antibody-dependent NK cell activation were detected in pregnant women with malaria, a definitive role for these antibody features in protecting against placental malaria remains to be proven.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / immunology*
  • Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity / immunology
  • Antigens, Protozoan / immunology
  • Erythrocytes / immunology
  • Erythrocytes / parasitology
  • Female
  • Glycosylation
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / parasitology
  • Malaria, Falciparum / immunology*
  • Malaria, Falciparum / parasitology
  • Placenta / immunology
  • Placenta / parasitology
  • Plasmodium falciparum / immunology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / immunology*
  • Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / parasitology
  • Pregnant Women
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Antigens, Protozoan
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments
  • Immunoglobulin G