Low Interleukin-12 Levels concerning Severe Malaria: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Issued Date
2022-08-01
Resource Type
ISSN
16617827
eISSN
16604601
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85136340745
Pubmed ID
35954703
Journal Title
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume
19
Issue
15
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol.19 No.15 (2022)
Suggested Citation
Wilairatana P., Kwankaew P., Kotepui K.U., Kotepui M. Low Interleukin-12 Levels concerning Severe Malaria: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol.19 No.15 (2022). doi:10.3390/ijerph19159345 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/84691
Title
Low Interleukin-12 Levels concerning Severe Malaria: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Author(s)
Author's Affiliation
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Although many studies have investigated the role of interleukin (IL)-12 cytokine in the pathogenesis of severe malaria, these studies were based on a limited number of participants, possibly affecting their outcomes. We analyzed the difference in IL-12 levels between patients with severe and uncomplicated malaria through a meta-analysis. A systematic review was conducted following the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and was reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. Systematic literature searches were performed between 20 February and 2 March, 2022 in PubMed, Scopus, and Embase to identify studies reporting IL-12 levels in patients with severe and uncomplicated malaria. The quality of included studies was determined using the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines. The pooled mean difference (MD) in IL-12 between patients with severe and uncomplicated malaria was estimated using the DerSimonian–Laird method for the random-effects model. Altogether, 1885 potentially relevant articles were identified, and 10 studies enrolling 654 patients with severe malaria and 626 patients with uncomplicated malaria were included in the meta-analysis. Patients with severe malaria had lower mean IL-12 levels than those with uncomplicated malaria (p = 0.01, MD: −33.62, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −58.79 to −8.45, I2: 99.29%, 10 studies). In conclusion, decreased IL-12 levels might significantly contribute to the development of severe malaria. As most published literature demonstrated the role of IL-12 in animal models, human studies are required to understand the mechanisms involved in low IL-12 levels in patients with severe malaria.