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. 2008 Nov 18:7:238.
doi: 10.1186/1475-2875-7-238.

Alterations on peripheral B cell subsets following an acute uncomplicated clinical malaria infection in children

Amolo S Asito  1 , Ann M Moormann, Chelimo Kiprotich, Zipporah W Ng'ang'a, Robert Ploutz-Snyder, Rosemary Rochford
Affiliations

Alterations on peripheral B cell subsets following an acute uncomplicated clinical malaria infection in children

Amolo S Asito et al. Malar J. .

Abstract

Background: The effects of Plasmodium falciparum on B-cell homeostasis have not been well characterized. This study investigated whether an episode of acute malaria in young children results in changes in the peripheral B cell phenotype.

Methods: Using flow-cytofluorimetric analysis, the B cell phenotypes found in the peripheral blood of children aged 2-5 years were characterized during an episode of acute uncomplicated clinical malaria and four weeks post-recovery and in healthy age-matched controls.

Results: There was a significant decrease in CD19+ B lymphocytes during acute malaria. Characterization of the CD19+ B cell subsets in the peripheral blood based on expression of IgD and CD38 revealed a significant decrease in the numbers of naive 1 CD38-IgD+ B cells while there was an increase in CD38+IgD- memory 3 B cells during acute malaria. Further analysis of the peripheral B cell phenotype also identified an expansion of transitional CD10+CD19+ B cells in children following an episode of acute malaria with up to 25% of total CD19+ B cell pool residing in this subset.

Conclusion: Children experiencing an episode of acute uncomplicated clinical malaria experienced profound disturbances in B cell homeostasis.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Alterations in peripheral B cell subsets in children with acute malaria compared to the same children following recovery. Representative FCF analysis of CD19+ B cells stained for CD38 and IgD. Expression of CD38 and IgD can be used to identify naive and memory B cell subpopulations in the peripheral blood [15].
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comparison of serum Ig levels in children with acute malaria, following recovery and age-matched controls. Total human Ig (IgG, IgM and IgA) in plasma was determined by ELISA analysis. Shown are mean (SEM) Ig levels between children with acute malaria (n = 15), the same children following recovery and age matched healthy children (n = 6). Significant differences between acute (a), recovery (r), and controls (c) as noted.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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