Neopterin and cytokine levels in patients with malaria

Abstract

Aim. The aim of this study was to evaluate Th polarization in the light of the IL-4, IFN-? and NPT (neopterin) levels of the patients with acute malaria. Methods. The study involved 38 patients (21 females and 17 males) infected by Plasmodium vivax. The age range of the patients was 14-58 years. A group of 33 healthy individuals (15 females and 18 males) with an age range of 16-60 years comprised the control group of the study. Blood samples of 5ml were acquired from each patient in the acute stage and NPT, IL-4 and IFN-A levels were determined through ELISA. Results. The mean serum NPT and IL-4 levels of the study group were significantly higher than those of the control group (p<0.001). However, the mean serum IFN-? levels did not significantly differ between the two groups (p>0.05). Conclusion. The immune response of the acute malaria patients infected with P.vivax was inclined to be in the form of Th2 polarization. NPT known to be secreted by macrophage activation was considered an early and sensitive marker of immune system activation in the patients with malaria.