Correlation of Inflammatory Biomarkers and IgG4 Antibodies with Malaria in Cameroon's Buea Municipality Children.

Abstract

Background: In recent decades, malaria has become a major worldwide public health problem in endemic countries, especially with children below five years. Malaria causes inflammation, and inflammatory biomarkers like α-1-glycoprotein (AGP) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are elevated in serum during malaria. This work aimed at assessing the serum levels of AGP (chronic inflammation) and CRP (acute inflammation) biomarkers and IgG4 and their correlation with malaria in children below five years in the Buea Health District of the South West Region of Cameroon. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out between February and April, 2024. AGP and CRP were measured using Q-7plex Human Micronutrient Measurement Kit while IgG4 levels were measured using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay with 80 samples. Results: Serum AGP and CRP biomarker levels were significantly higher in malaria-positive children compared to malaria-negative children (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). IgG4 levels were high in malaria-negative children (mean OD = 0.51) compared to children infected with the malaria parasite (mean OD = 0.29), in a manner that was statistically significant (p < 0.03). Hemoglobin (Hb) had a strong negative correlation with AGP (-0.62) and CRP (-0.46), meaning that as Hb levels increased, AGP and CRP levels decreased. CRP had a strong positive correlation with both age (0.3) and AGP (0.5), suggesting that as age increased or as AGP levels rose, CRP levels tended to increase as well. Conclusions: This study revealed that malaria causes alterations in the serum levels of AGP, CRP, and IgG4 in children below the age of 5 in the Buea municipality of Cameroon. It impacts immune responses by increasing the level of inflammation biomarkers like AGP and CRP and decreasing IgG4, a marker associated with immune regulation. Thus, this study helps the understanding of the inflammatory nature of malaria and could be expanded to aid in the broader public health efforts to control and prevent malaria, reduce its complications, and improve overall health outcomes in children in the Buea municipality.