BACKGROUND The immune response during falciparum malaria mediates both harmful and protective effects on the host; however the participating molecules have not been fully defined. Interleukin (IL)-27 is a pleiotropic cytokine exerting both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects, but data on IL-27 in malaria patients are scarce. METHODS Clinical data and blood samples were collected from adults in Mozambique with P. falciparum infection, with (n = 70) and without (n = 61) HIV-1 co-infection, from HIV-infected patients with similar symptoms without malaria (n = 58) and from healthy controls (n = 52). In vitro studies were performed in endothelial cells and PBMC using hemozoin crystals. Samples were analyzed using enzyme immunoassays and quantitative PCR. RESULTS (i) IL-27 was markedly up-regulated in malaria patients compared with controls and HIV-infected patients without malaria, showing no relation to HIV co-infection. (ii) IL-27 was correlated with P. falciparum parasitemia and von Willebrand factor as a marker of endothelial activation, but not with disease severity. (iii) In vitro, IL-27 modulated the hemozoin-mediated cytokine response in endothelial cells and PBMC with enhancing effects on IL-6 and attenuating effects on IL-8. CONCLUSION Our findings show that IL-27 is regulated during falciparum malaria, mediating both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects, potentially playing an immune-regulatory role during falciparum malaria.

中文翻译：

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恶性疟疾中白细胞介素27的血浆水平独立于HIV的共同感染而增加：在疟疾中潜在的免疫调节作用。

背景恶性疟疾期间的免疫应答介导对宿主的有害作用和保护作用。但是，参与分子尚未完全定义。白介素（IL）-27是一种多效性细胞因子，具有炎症和抗炎作用，但有关疟疾患者IL-27的数据很少。方法从莫桑比克患有恶性疟原虫感染，有（n = 70）和无（n = 61）HIV-1合并感染的成年人的临床数据和血液样本中，从具有类似症状但没有疟疾的HIV感染患者中收集（n = 58）和健康对照组（n = 52）。使用hezozoin晶体在内皮细胞和PBMC中进行了体外研究。使用酶免疫测定法和定量PCR分析样品。结果（i）与对照组和没有疟疾的HIV感染患者相比，疟疾患者的IL-27明显上调，与HIV合并感染无关。（ii）IL-27与恶性疟原虫寄生虫病和von Willebrand因子作为内皮细胞激活的标志物相关，但与疾病严重程度无关。（iii）在体外，IL-27调节了血管内皮细胞和PBMC中的溶血素介导的细胞因子反应，从而增强了对IL-6的作用并减弱了对IL-8的作用。结论我们的发现表明，在恶性疟疾中IL-27受到调节，同时介导炎症和抗炎作用，在恶性疟疾中可能发挥免疫调节作用。恶性疟原虫和von Willebrand因子可作为内皮细胞活化的标志物，但与疾病的严重程度无关。（iii）在体外，IL-27调节了血管内皮细胞和PBMC中的溶血素介导的细胞因子反应，从而增强了对IL-6的作用并减弱了对IL-8的作用。结论我们的发现表明，在恶性疟疾中IL-27受到调节，同时介导炎症和抗炎作用，在恶性疟疾中可能发挥免疫调节作用。恶性疟原虫和von Willebrand因子可作为内皮细胞活化的标志物，但与疾病的严重程度无关。（iii）在体外，IL-27调节了血管内皮细胞和PBMC中的溶血素介导的细胞因子反应，从而增强了对IL-6的作用并减弱了对IL-8的作用。结论我们的发现表明，在恶性疟疾中IL-27受到调节，同时介导炎症和抗炎作用，在恶性疟疾中可能发挥免疫调节作用。