Abstract

BACKGROUND: Plasmodium falciparum malaria increases plasma levels of the cytokine Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt3L), a haematopoietic factor associated with dendritic cell (DC) expansion. It is unknown if the zoonotic parasite Plasmodium knowlesi impacts Flt3L or DC in human malaria. This study investigated circulating DC and Flt3L associations in adult malaria and in submicroscopic experimental infection. METHODS: DC and plasmacytoid DC (pDC) numbers were assessed in (i) volunteers experimentally infected with P. falciparum and in Malaysian patients with uncomplicated (ii) P. falciparum or (iii) P. knowlesi malaria. RESULTS: DCs and pDCs declined in all adults tested, for the first time extending the finding of DC subset decline in acute malaria to the zoonotic parasite P. knowlesi. CONCLUSIONS: DCs or pDCs. These data imply that haematopoietic factors, yet to be identified and not Flt3L, involved in the sensing/maintenance of circulating DC are impacted by malaria and a submicroscopic infection. The zoonotic P. knowlesi is similar to other Plasmodium spp in compromising DC in adult malaria.

Authors	Loughland, Jessica R; Woodberry, Tonia; Oyong, Damian; Piera, Kim A; Amante, Fiona H; Barber, Bridget E; Grigg, Matthew J; William, Timothy; Engwerda, Christian R; Anstey, Nicholas M; McCarthy, James S; Boyle, Michelle J; Minigo, Gabriela
Journal	MALARIA JOURNAL
Pages	97
Volume	20
Date	1/01/2021
Grant ID
Funding Body
URL	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=10.1186/s12936-021-03642-0