Impact of epstein-barr virus reactivation on cytokine levels in pregnant women with malaria in the west region of cameroon.
| Title: | Impact of epstein-barr virus reactivation on cytokine levels in pregnant women with malaria in the west region of cameroon. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Chatue IAD; Molecular Diagnostics Research Group (MDRG), Biotechnology Centre, University of Yaounde I (BTC-UYI), Yaounde, Cameroon.; Department of Microbiology, University of Yaounde I, P. O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon.; Malaria Biology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, P. O. Box 10504, New Delhi, 110067, India.; Nyegue MA; Department of Microbiology, University of Yaounde I, P. O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon.; Kamdem SD; Molecular Diagnostics Research Group (MDRG), Biotechnology Centre, University of Yaounde I (BTC-UYI), Yaounde, Cameroon.; Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, 15 North Medical Drive East Ste, Salt Lake City, UT, 1100, 84112, United States of America.; Taya-Fokou JB; Molecular Diagnostics Research Group (MDRG), Biotechnology Centre, University of Yaounde I (BTC-UYI), Yaounde, Cameroon.; Department of Microbiology, University of Yaounde I, P. O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon.; Djiyou ABD; Molecular Diagnostics Research Group (MDRG), Biotechnology Centre, University of Yaounde I (BTC-UYI), Yaounde, Cameroon.; Pathogens, Epidemiology and Clinical Trials Laboratory, Postgraduate Training Unit for Health Sciences, Postgraduate School for Pure and Applied Sciences, the University of Douala, PO. Box 2701, Douala, Cameroon.; Tchoupe EB; Molecular Diagnostics Research Group (MDRG), Biotechnology Centre, University of Yaounde I (BTC-UYI), Yaounde, Cameroon.; Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Science, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon.; Tepa A; Molecular Diagnostics Research Group (MDRG), Biotechnology Centre, University of Yaounde I (BTC-UYI), Yaounde, Cameroon.; Neba RF; Molecular Diagnostics Research Group (MDRG), Biotechnology Centre, University of Yaounde I (BTC-UYI), Yaounde, Cameroon.; Junaid IT; Malaria Biology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, P. O. Box 10504, New Delhi, 110067, India.; Malhotra P; Malaria Biology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, P. O. Box 10504, New Delhi, 110067, India. pawanmal@gmail.com.; Netongo PM; Molecular Diagnostics Research Group (MDRG), Biotechnology Centre, University of Yaounde I (BTC-UYI), Yaounde, Cameroon. masumben@gmail.com.; Biology Program, School of Science, Navajo Technical University, P. O. Box 849, Crownpoint, NM, 87313, United States of America. masumben@gmail.com.; Department of Biochemistry, University of Yaounde I, P. O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon. masumben@gmail.com. |
| Source: | Scientific reports [Sci Rep] 2025 Sep 30; Vol. 15 (1), pp. 33976. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Sep 30. |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: Nature Publishing Group Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101563288 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2045-2322 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 20452322 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Sci Rep Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: London : Nature Publishing Group, copyright 2011- |
| MeSH Terms: | Epstein-Barr Virus Infections*/virology ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections*/immunology ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections*/blood ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections*/complications ; Cytokines*/blood ; Herpesvirus 4, Human*/physiology ; Herpesvirus 4, Human*/immunology ; Malaria*/blood ; Virus Activation*; Cameroon/epidemiology ; Humans ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Adult ; Young Adult ; Adolescent |
| Abstract: | We have previously reported that pregnant women with EBV reactivation are more prone to severe malaria than those with latent EBV. This suggests that lytic reactivation of EBV is strongly associated with malaria severity and could be investigated as a risk factor for severe malaria during pregnancy. To understand the association between EBV reactivation and malaria severity, we investigated the levels of IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10, and TGF-β in pregnant women with malaria and reactivated EBV vs. latent EBV. A total of 220 pregnant women were recruited from three hospitals in the West region of Cameroon. Malaria was diagnosed by microscopy and Nested PCR, while EBV reactivation was assessed by detecting EBV nuclear antigen IgG, viral capsid antigen IgM, and early antigen IgG using ELISA. Cytokine levels were measured by ELISA, and data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism version 9.0. Women with reactivated EBV and severe malaria showed significantly lower IL-6 levels compared to those with latent EBV and severe malaria (29.86 pg/ml vs. 55.83 pg/ml, p = 0.02). Interestingly, TGF-β levels were significantly elevated in women with reactivated EBV and severe malaria than those with latent EBV and severe malaria (17.6 pg/ml vs. 6.1 pg/ml, p = 0.01). A strong negative correlation was observed between IL-10 levels and parasitemia in women with reactivated EBV and severe malaria (r=-0.9762, p = 0.0004). Our data revealed that lytic EBV reactivation may impair the inflammatory response by down-regulating the IL-6 level and elevating the TGF-β level, contributing to a loss of control of the parasitemia and potentially exacerbating malaria. This study provides further insight into the immunological interaction between EBV and P. falciparum and could contribute to improving malaria therapies in EBV-infected malaria patients.; (© 2025. The Author(s).) |
| Competing Interests: | Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Conflict of interest: The authors have declared that there are no potential conflicts of interest. |
| References: | Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2001 Apr 29;356(1408):461-73. (PMID: 11313005); J Immunol Res. 2021 Nov 8;2021:7785180. (PMID: 34790829); Ann Trop Paediatr. 2005 Sep;25(3):191-7. (PMID: 16156984); Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2011 Oct;24(5):435-41. (PMID: 21885920); Cancer Lett. 2019 Oct 10;462:12-22. (PMID: 31352079); J Immunol. 2002 Aug 15;169(4):2204-9. (PMID: 12165551); J Reprod Immunol. 2012 Sep;95(1-2):1-14. (PMID: 22819759); Cytokine. 2013 Nov;64(2):503-8. (PMID: 24012048); Methods Mol Med. 2002;72:189-203. (PMID: 12125116); J Parasit Dis. 2019 Sep;43(3):337-342. (PMID: 31406397); J Clin Microbiol. 2009 Oct;47(10):3204-10. (PMID: 19656988); Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2017 Apr 5;24(4):. (PMID: 28122790); PLOS Glob Public Health. 2024 Aug 12;4(8):e0003556. (PMID: 39133703); J Virol. 1995 Jul;69(7):4206-12. (PMID: 7769680); J Biol Chem. 2012 Aug 3;287(32):26586-95. (PMID: 22692218); J Travel Med. 2022 Jul 14;29(4):. (PMID: 35467747); Blood. 1998 May 15;91(10):3875-83. (PMID: 9573025); Lancet. 1998 Jun 13;351(9118):1768-72. (PMID: 9635949); PLoS One. 2021 Dec 28;16(12):e0261923. (PMID: 34962938); Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2006 Jul;100(7):669-76. (PMID: 16313933); Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1984 Jul;81(14):4510-4. (PMID: 6087328); Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2015 Jul;34(7):783-8. (PMID: 25886788); J Infect Dis. 1999 Oct;180(4):1288-97. (PMID: 10479160); J Virol. 2000 Mar;74(6):2612-9. (PMID: 10684275) |
| Grant Information: | WS/CMR22-01 International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology; DST/20/015 JC Bose fellowship grant; RIA2016E-1612 The African coaLition for Epidemic Research, Response and Training, (ALERRT) |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Cameroon; Cytokines; EBV reactivation; Pregnant women; Severe malaria; Uncomplicated malaria |
| Substance Nomenclature: | 0 (Cytokines) |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20250930 Date Completed: 20251001 Latest Revision: 20251003 |
| Update Code: | 20260130 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC12485065 |
| DOI: | 10.1038/s41598-025-10846-w |
| PMID: | 41028216 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
Journal Article