Lipid metabolites of the phospholipase A2 pathway and inflammatory cytokines are associated with brain volume in paediatric cerebral malaria. (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pappa, Vasiliki; Seydel, Karl; Gupta, Sanchit; Feintuch, Catherine; Potchen, Michael; Kampondeni, Samuel; Goldman-Yassen, Adam; Veenstra, Mike; Lopez, Lillie; Kim, Ryung; Berman, Joan; Taylor, Terrie; Daily, Johanna
• Is Part Of: Malaria journal. Volume 14:Number 1(2015)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 8
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: Plasmodium falciparum -- Cerebral malaria -- Brain swelling -- Inflammation -- Phospholipase A2 -- Plasma small molecules -- Cytokines; Malaria -- Periodicals; 616.9362
• DOI: 10.1186/s12936-015-1036-1
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1475-2875

Abstract

Abstract Background Cerebral malaria (CM) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in children in sub-Saharan Africa. CM mortality has been associated with increased brain volume, seen on neuroimaging studies. Methods To examine the potential role of blood metabolites and inflammatory mediators in increased brain volume in Malawian children with CM, an association study was performed between plasma metabolites, cytokine levels and phospholipase A2 (PLA2 ) activity with brain volume. Results The metabolomics analysis demonstrated arachidonic acid and other lysophospholipids to be positively associated with brain swelling. These lipids are products of the PLA2 enzyme and an association of plasma PLA2 enzymatic activity with brain swelling was confirmed. TNFα, which can upregulate PLA2 activity, was associated with brain volume. In addition, CCL2 and IL-8 were also associated with brain volume. Some of these cytokines can alter endothelial cell tight junction proteins and increase blood brain barrier permeability. Conclusions Taken together, paediatric CM brain volume was associated with products of the PLA2 pathway and inflammatory cytokines. Their role in causality is unknown. These molecules will need to undergo testing in vitro and in animal models to understand their role in processes of increased brain volume. These observations provide novel data on host physiology associated with paediatric CM brain swelling, and may both inform pathogenesis models and suggest adjunct therapies that could improve the morbidity and mortality associated with paediatric CM.