Maternal Serum Levels of Alpha Tumour Necrotic Factor, Interleukin 10, Interleukin 6 and Interleukin 4 in Malaria Infected Pregnant Women Based on Their Gestational Age in Southeast, Nigeria

Malaria has been reported as a condition caused by infestation with Plasmodium parasite species, is a major public health problem globally especially in developing countries like Nigeria. This study was carriedout in Federal Medical Centre Umuahia in Abia State, Nigeria. A study was done to determine the maternal serumlevels of alpha tumour necrotic factor, interleukin 10, interleukin 6and interleukin 4 in malaria infected pregnant women based on their gestational age in Southeast, Nigeria. A total of 150 subjects between the ages of 18-45 years were recruited for the study comprising of fifty (50) subjects each of the 3 trimesters. Commercial ELISA Kit by MELSIN Medical Co Limited was used to measure all the cytokines. The results of Table 1 showed no significant difference of TNF-α (p=0.346), IL-10 (p=0.059), IL-6 (p=0.811) and IL-4 (p=0.257) of malaria infected pregnant women at first trimester and second trimester respectively. The results of Table 2 showed no significant difference of TNF-α (p=0.642), IL-10 (p=0.678), IL-6 (p=0.551) and IL-4 (p=0.280) of malaria infected pregnant women at first trimester and third trimester respectively. The results of Table 2 showed no significant difference of TNF-α (p=0.062), IL-10 (p=0.016), IL-6 (p=0.352) and IL-4 (p=0.914) of malaria infected pregnant women at first trimester and third trimester respectively. The study showed no changes in the cytokines studied among the malaria infected pregnant women based on gestational ages except when IL-10 was compared between the subjects on second trimester and third trimester. This study shows that malaria infection does not changes these cytokines in pregnant women based on gestational ages except the il-10 when compared at second trimester and third trimester but changes when compared at other trimesters.

Evaluation of Some Cytokines, CD4, Hepcidin, Iron, and Some Haematological Parameters of Patients Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Southeastern Part of Nigeria

A study to evaluate the levels of interferon-gamma, interleukins 6 and 10, hepcidin, iron status and some haematological parameters in persons living with human immunodeficiency virus was carried out. A total of 150 subjects aged 18-60 years were enlisted for this study. The subjects were grouped into: Group A (50 control subjects) and Group B (100 HIV subjects, 50 subjects were non ART HIV patients, 50 subjects were on Lamivudine, Tenofavir and Efavirenz). About 7ml of venous blood were collected from each subject;4.5ml of blood were placed into plain tubes for assay of interferon gamma, interleukins (6&10), hepcidin and iron and 2.5ml for FBC, CD4 count and HIV screening. The cytokines and hepcidinwere measured using Melsin ELISA Kits and Teco Diagnostics kits used for iron. Full blood count was determined by automation using Mindray BC-5300, China. The data was analysed with the statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 20 using ANOVA and the level of significance set at P<0.05. The results showed difference that was statistically significant (P<0.05) in IFN-γ (16.25±0.87pg/ml, 29.31±1.44pg/ml,18.49±1.48pg/ml, P=0.000),IL-6(7.98±0.22pg/ml, 11.08±1.21pg/ml,8.79±0.76pg/ml,P=0.000), IL-10(8.52±0.62pg/ml, 16.62±1.53pg/ml,10.39±1.06Pg/ml P=0.000), CD4 (1045.54 ±247.24Cells/L, 195.60 ±35.94Cells/L,10.39±1.06cells/L P=0.000), hepcidin (6.03±1.38ng/ml, 39.59 ±4.50ng/ml, 20.86±3.43ng/ml, P=0.000), Iron (86.29±7.27 μg/dl, 73.43±5.45 μg/dl,85.44±8.45μg/dl, P=0.000), TIBC (345.56±28.40 μg/dl, 287.19 ±8.21μg/dl,305.46±18.82μg/dl, P=0.000),%TSA (25.16±3.18%, 25.61±2.22%,28.08 ±3.42%,P=0.000) WBC (5.87 ±0.88 X 109/L, 4.69±0.72X 109/L,4.80±0.45X 109/L, P=0.000), Neutrophils (60.57±2.83%, 75.16±3.68%,69.04±2.90%, P=0.000), Lymphocytes (30.69 ±2.84%, 17.24±2.50%, 24.46±2.60%,P=0.000), Monocytes (5.59 ±1.2%, 4.18±1.12%,3.97±0.92%, P=0.000), Eosinophils (2.30 ±1.05%, 2.16±0.82%,1.67±0.57%, P=0.000), Basophil 0.86 ±0.39%, 1.31±0.94%, 0.86±0.44%,P=0.018), RBC (4.92±0.30 X 1012/L, 3.34±0.21 X 1012/L,3.60 ±0.18X 1012/L, P=0.000), Haemoglobin (14.75±0.90,g/dl, 10.05±0.65g/dl,10.80±0.53g/dl, P=0.000), PCV (44.25±2.70%, 30.14±1.95,32.56±1.50%, P=0.000), MCV(89.92±2.3fl, 79.49±1.28fl,88.15±2.08fl, P=0.029), MCH (36.12±1.53pg, 26.60±0.48P, P=0.002), Platelets (261.75±22.71 X 109/L, 246.16±9.93 X 109/L,189.32±17.00X 109/L, P=0.000), ESR (7.03 ±1.38mm/hr, 59.52 ±6.46mm/hr,43.34±4.82mm/hr, P=0.000) when compared among Control, Non ART HIV and ART positive subjects.g,28.57±1.78pg, P=0.000), MCHC (368.46±12.28g/l, 318.92±7.33g/l,333.56±22.61g/l. The study shows that interferon gamma, interleukin 6, interleukin 10 and hepcidin are some of the biomarkers in thepathogenesis of HIV. The infection of HIV increases the levels of the cytokines. The cytokines and hepcidin can be used as prognostic and diagnostic markers as their levels decreased with treatment of the patients