Soluble Markers of B-Cell Stimulation During Asymptomatic and Symptomatic Malaria Parasitemia in Children in Uganda

Abstract 28Background:In vitro, Burkitt lymphoma (BL) cell lines express high levels of several cytokines, including CCL3/MIP-1 alpha, CXCL10/IP-10, and IL-10, among others. These cytokines may promote lymphoma development through B- cell hyperstimulation. To understand the influence of malaria infection on cytokine expression in vivo and the potential role in BL development, we sought to characterize the expression of specific cytokines during malaria among children from a region where malaria and BL are endemic.Methods:We studied children participating in a prospective malaria cohort in Uganda. Plasma cytokines were assessed in each child at 3 time points representing 3 disease states: no malaria, asymptomatic malaria, and symptomatic malaria. We assessed both equality of cytokine distribution at the 3 time points using Kruskal-Wallis test and the factors associated with cytokine expression using generalized estimating equations.Results:Among the 41 children, median age was 5.0 (0.8-10.3) years when nor...