Th1 and Th2 cytokines in childhood haemoglobinopathies with uncomplicated malaria infection

Abstract

The relative balance between Th1 and Th2 cytokines appears crucial in the outcome of infections. Weassessed the levels of proinflammatory Th1 cytokines, interleukin2 (IL2) and gamma interferon (IFNγ),and anti-inflammatory Th2 cytokines, IL4 and IL10 in homozygous haemoglobin (Hb) AA, SS and heterozygousAS genotyped individuals with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in Benin city, Nigeria. Levels of Th1 andTh2 cytokines of 111 children with uncomplicated malaria and 89 healthy controls were determined byEnzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay. CD4 and CD8 cells were counted using the Dynabeads T4T8Quantification protocol while haematological parameters were estimated using standard haematologicaltechniques. Th1 and Th2 cytokine levels were significantly higher in HbAA, HbAS and HbSS genotypedpatients than their respective healthy controls (P<0.05). Th1 and Th2 cytokines were significantly elevatedin HbAA (IFNγ: 57.31±77.79pg/ml, IL2:108.75±63.53pg/ml, IL10:18.39±15.08pg/ml) than in HbAS (IFNγ: 32.48±24.83pg/ml, IL2:64.16±56.0 pg/ml, IL10:pg/ml) and HbSS (IFNγ: 23.36±14.73 pg/ml, IL2:76.74±39.99 pg/ml,IL10:7.19±4.50 pg/ml) subjects (P<0.05). Themean haematological parameters (total white cell count,monocyte) of HbSS infected children were significantly higher than that of HbAA and HbAS subjects(P<0.05), however, their mean packed cell volume was significantly lower than others (P<0.05). Finally, it isimportant to recognize that the role of cytokines in immune response is yet to be fully understood