Suppressed Peripheral and Placental Blood Lymphoproliferative Responses in First Pregnancies: Relevance to Malaria

F. N. Rasheed Medical Research Council Laboratories, Division of Pathology, School of Pathological Sciences, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Department of Paediatric Epidemiology, Institute of Child Health, Medical and Health Department, Malaria Research Group, Department of Infectious Disease, State University Hospital and Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Fajara, The Gambia

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J. N. Bulmer Medical Research Council Laboratories, Division of Pathology, School of Pathological Sciences, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Department of Paediatric Epidemiology, Institute of Child Health, Medical and Health Department, Malaria Research Group, Department of Infectious Disease, State University Hospital and Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Fajara, The Gambia

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D. T. Dunn Medical Research Council Laboratories, Division of Pathology, School of Pathological Sciences, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Department of Paediatric Epidemiology, Institute of Child Health, Medical and Health Department, Malaria Research Group, Department of Infectious Disease, State University Hospital and Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Fajara, The Gambia

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C. Menendez Medical Research Council Laboratories, Division of Pathology, School of Pathological Sciences, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Department of Paediatric Epidemiology, Institute of Child Health, Medical and Health Department, Malaria Research Group, Department of Infectious Disease, State University Hospital and Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Fajara, The Gambia

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M. F. B. Jawla Medical Research Council Laboratories, Division of Pathology, School of Pathological Sciences, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Department of Paediatric Epidemiology, Institute of Child Health, Medical and Health Department, Malaria Research Group, Department of Infectious Disease, State University Hospital and Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Fajara, The Gambia

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A. Jepson Medical Research Council Laboratories, Division of Pathology, School of Pathological Sciences, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Department of Paediatric Epidemiology, Institute of Child Health, Medical and Health Department, Malaria Research Group, Department of Infectious Disease, State University Hospital and Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Fajara, The Gambia

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P. H. Jakobsen Medical Research Council Laboratories, Division of Pathology, School of Pathological Sciences, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Department of Paediatric Epidemiology, Institute of Child Health, Medical and Health Department, Malaria Research Group, Department of Infectious Disease, State University Hospital and Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Fajara, The Gambia

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B. M. Greenwood Medical Research Council Laboratories, Division of Pathology, School of Pathological Sciences, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Department of Paediatric Epidemiology, Institute of Child Health, Medical and Health Department, Malaria Research Group, Department of Infectious Disease, State University Hospital and Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Fajara, The Gambia

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.1993.48.154
Volume/Issue:
Volume 48: Issue 2
Page(s):
154–160
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An understanding of processes that predispose pregnant women, and in particular primigravidae, to malaria infection is essential to improve malaria management in pregnancy. Lymphoproliferative responses to malaria-specific (F32, 190L, and 190N) as well as other antigens (Candida and purified protein derivative [PPD]) were examined in the peripheral and placental blood of 102 Gambian women at the time of delivery. The lymphoproliferative responses of placental cells were poor to all antigens compared with those of peripheral blood (Candida P < 0.001, PPD P < 0.001, F32 P = 0.008, 190L P = 0.003, and 190N P = 0.10). Reduced proliferative capacity of placental mononuclear cells may contribute to heavy parasite colonization of this organ. Proliferation to malarial and PPD but not Candida antigens was selectively suppressed in peripheral and placental blood of primiparae relative to multiparae (F32 P = 0.07, 190L P = 0.09, 190N P = 0.007, PPD P = 0.09). Autologous plasma contained factors that suppressed lymphoproliferative responses to the same series of antigens to which the primiparae responded poorly (F32 P < 0.001, 190L P < 0.001, 190N P < 0.001, PPD P = 0.03). Malarial antibody levels were comparable among women of different parities and between peripheral and placental blood. Primigravidae may be more susceptible to malaria because of unique physiologic factors, such as higher levels of circulating immunosuppressive corticosteroids (P < 0.001), rather than differences in levels of acquired immunity.

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Copyright:
Copyright © 1993 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 1993
Published Online:
Feb 1993
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
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