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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
Dysregulation of angiopoietins is associated with placental malaria and low birth weight
PLoS ONE, Volume 5, No. 3, Article e9481, Year 2010
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Description
Background: Placental malaria (PM) is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes including low birth weight (LBW). However, the precise mechanisms by which PM induces LBW are poorly defined. Based on the essential role of angiopoietin (ANG)-1 and -2 in normal placental vascular development, we hypothesized that PM may result in the dysregulation of angiopoietins and thereby contribute to LBW outcomes. Methods and Findings: In a mouse model of PM, we show that Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection of pregnant mice resulted in dysregulated angiopoietin levels and fetal growth restriction. PM lead to decreased ANG-1, increased ANG-2, and an elevated ratio of ANG-2/ANG-1 in the placenta and the serum. These observations were extended to malaria-exposed pregnant women: In a study of primigravid women prospectively followed over the course of pregnancy, Plasmodium falciparum infection was associated with a decrease in maternal plasma ANG-1 levels (P = 0.031) and an increase in the ANG-2:ANG-1 ratio (P = 0.048). ANG-1 levels recovered with successful treatment of peripheral parasitemia (P = 0.010). In a crosssectional study of primigravidae at delivery, angiopoietin dysregulation was associated with PM (P = 0.002) and LBW (P = 0.041). Women with PM who delivered LBW infants had increased ANG-2:ANG-1 ratios (P = 0.002) compared to uninfected women delivering normal birth weight infants. Conclusions: These data support the hypothesis that dysregulation of angiopoietins is associated with PM and LBW outcomes, and suggest that ANG-1 and ANG-2 levels may be clinically informative biomarkers to identify P. falciparum-infected mothers at risk of LBW deliveries. © 2010 Silver et al.
Authors & Co-Authors
Silver, Karlee L.
Canada, Toronto
University Health Network University of Toronto
Zhong, Kathleen J.Y.
Canada, Toronto
University Health Network University of Toronto
Léké, Rose Gana Fomban
Cameroon, Yaounde
Université de Yaoundé I
Taylor, Diane Wallace
United States, Washington, D.c.
Georgetown University
United States, Honolulu
John A. Burns School of Medicine
Kain, Kevin C.
Canada, Toronto
University Health Network University of Toronto
Canada, Toronto
University of Toronto
Statistics
Citations: 77
Authors: 5
Affiliations: 5
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1371/journal.pone.0009481
e-ISSN:
19326203
Research Areas
Infectious Diseases
Maternal And Child Health
Sexual And Reproductive Health
Participants Gender
Female