Neutrophil alterations in pregnancy-associated malaria and induction of neutrophil chemotaxis by Plasmodium falciparum

TY - JOUR

T1 - Neutrophil alterations in pregnancy-associated malaria and induction of neutrophil chemotaxis by Plasmodium falciparum

AU - Boström, S.

AU - Schmiegelow, C

AU - Abu Abed, U

AU - Minja, D T R

AU - Lusingu, J

AU - Brinkmann, V

AU - Honkpehedji, Y J

AU - Loembe, M M

AU - Adegnika, Ayola Akim

AU - Mordmüller, Benjamin

AU - Troye-Blomberg, M

AU - Amulic, Borko

N1 - © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PY - 2017/6

Y1 - 2017/6

N2 - Pregnancy-associated malaria (PAM) is a severe form of the disease caused by sequestration of Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells (iRBCs) in the developing placenta. Pathogenesis of PAM is partially based on immunopathology, with frequent monocyte infiltration into the placenta. Neutrophils are abundant blood cells that are essential for immune defence but may also cause inflammatory pathology. Their role in PAM remains unclear. We analysed neutrophil alterations in the context of PAM to better understand their contribution to disease development. Pregnant women exposed to Plasmodium falciparum had decreased numbers of circulating neutrophils. Placental-like BeWo cells stimulated with malaria parasites produced the neutrophil chemoattractant IL-8 and recruited neutrophils in a trans-well assay. Finally, immunostaining of a PAM placenta confirmed neutrophil accumulation in the intervillous space. Our data indicate neutrophils may play a role in placental malaria and should be more closely examined as an etiological agent in the pathophysiology of disease.

AB - Pregnancy-associated malaria (PAM) is a severe form of the disease caused by sequestration of Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells (iRBCs) in the developing placenta. Pathogenesis of PAM is partially based on immunopathology, with frequent monocyte infiltration into the placenta. Neutrophils are abundant blood cells that are essential for immune defence but may also cause inflammatory pathology. Their role in PAM remains unclear. We analysed neutrophil alterations in the context of PAM to better understand their contribution to disease development. Pregnant women exposed to Plasmodium falciparum had decreased numbers of circulating neutrophils. Placental-like BeWo cells stimulated with malaria parasites produced the neutrophil chemoattractant IL-8 and recruited neutrophils in a trans-well assay. Finally, immunostaining of a PAM placenta confirmed neutrophil accumulation in the intervillous space. Our data indicate neutrophils may play a role in placental malaria and should be more closely examined as an etiological agent in the pathophysiology of disease.

U2 - 10.1111/pim.12433

DO - 10.1111/pim.12433

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 28380252

SN - 0141-9838

VL - 39

JO - Parasite Immunology

JF - Parasite Immunology

IS - 6

M1 - e12433

ER -