Pimwan Thongdee
Thammasat University, Thailand
Title: The possible role of prostaglandin D2 in malaria pathogenesis
Biography
Biography: Pimwan Thongdee
Abstract
Prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) is the most crucial prostanoid produced in the brain and involved in pain responses. Moreover, PGD2 is a key factor derived from malaria within erythrocytes and might influence to parasite growth. The aim of the study was to preliminarily investigate the role of PGD2 in malaria pathogenesis. Blood samples were collected from patients with Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum (moderate and high parasitemia:1,000-50,000, and >50,000 /ml, respectively) infections, patients with fever associated with other infections, and healthy subjects of both genders and all age groups. PGD2 concentrations were determined using Prostaglandin D2-MOX express EIA kit (Cayman Chemical, USA).
Median (range) of plasma PGD2 concentrations in patients with fever associated with other infections, patients with P. vivax and patients with P. falciparum infections, and healthy subjects (control) were 60 (11 - 525), 34 (22 - 130), 28 (16 - 38), 22 (13 - 75), and 16 (6 - 30) pg/ml, respectively. The median (range) plasma PGD2 concentrations in patients with fever associated with other infections was significantly higher than those with P. vivax (p < 0.05), P. falciparum infections with moderate parasitemia (p < 0.0001), and healthy subjects (p < 0.0001). The concentrations in patients with P.vivax infection was significantly higher than those with P. falciparum with moderate parasitemia (p < 0.0001), and healthy subjects (p < 0.0001). Results of this preliminary study may suggest at least in part, an involvement of PGD2 in fever-associated infections including malaria. Confirmation this finding is required with a larger sample size.