Human ß-defensin 1 in patients with Plasmodium falciparum malaria

Abstract

Abstract: Neutrophils appear to play a principle role in innate immunity seen early in malaria infections. They are the first line defenses against malaria and they can attack malaria parasites in several ways. Neutrophils release an assortment of antimicrobial peptides the major are defensins. However, a little is known about the expression of defensins in parasite infection diseases. We conducted a study to find the human ß-defensin-1 (hBD-1) in Plasmodium falciparum malaria pa- tients with different severities, comparing the finding in dengue fever patient and healthy normal volunteer. Methods: Plasma samples from 9 individuals, composed of 4 patients with P. falciparum malaria infection with low parasitemia, 3 patients with P. falciparum malaria infection with high parasitemia, 1 patient with dengue fever, and 1 healthy normal volunteer were analyzed. Realtime-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunoblot analysis were used to detect mRNA for hBD-1 and protein secretion of hBD-1 respectively. Results: The hBD-1 mRNA expression could be detected in both groups of patients with malaria infection (low and high parasitemia). Immunodetection of hBD-1 in plasma samples revealed that all samples had immunoreactive bands consistent with hBD-1. Malaria patients showed plasma concentrations of hBD-1 higher than healthy normal subject. However, plasma concentrations of hBD-1 did not show statistical difference between low and high parasitemia groups. Conclusions: The findings showed that the serum hBD-1 might be over expression in malaria patients. Plasma hBD-1 might be as a maker of malaria infection. Further investigations might be clarified in more sample sizes, different malarial species and severity to address utility of hBD-1 in malaria patients with different geographical areas.