Parasitemia induces high plasma levels of interleukin-17 (IL-17) and low levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) in pregnant mice infected with malaria

Background: During pregnancy, the balanced dominance of the T helper17 response shifts to a Th2 response that is characterised by the production of IL-10, following the completion of the implantation process. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) expression is associated with the completion of trophoblast invasion and placental growth. This study assessed the effect of malaria infection on the levels of IL-17, IL-10, and TGF-β in the plasma of pregnant mice with malaria. Methods: Seventeen pregnant BALB/C mice were divided into two groups: mice infected with Plasmodium berghei (treatment group) and uninfected mice (control group). The mice were sacrificed on day 18 post-mating. Parasitemia was measured by Giemsa staining. The levels of IL-17, IL-10, and TGF-β were measured by ELISA. Results: Using independent t test, the IL-17 levels in the treatment group were higher than those in the control group (P = 0.040). The IL-10 levels in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group (P = 0.00). There was no significant difference in the TGF-β levels (P = 0.055) between two groups. However, using SEM analysis the degree of parasitemia decreased the plasma TGF-β levels (t_count= 5.148; ≥ t_table= 1.96). SEM analysis showed that a high degree of parasitemia increased the IL-17 levels and decreased the IL-10 and TGF-β levels. Conclusion: Malaria infection during pregnancy interferes with the systemic balance by increasing the IL-17 levels and decreasing the IL-10 and TGF-β levels.