TINGGINYA KADAR TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR-α (TNF-α) PLASMA PADA MENCIT BUNTING YANG TERINFEKSI PLASMODIUM BERGHEI BERHUBUNGAN KUAT DENGAN KADAR HEMOGLOBIN YANG RENDAH TETAPI TIDAK BERHUBUNGAN DENGAN BERAT BADAN JANIN RENDAH

Abstract

Malaria infection in pregnancy may increase the morbidity and mortality of both mother and fetus. In pregnant women, it can lead to severe anemia, cerebral malaria, pulmonary edema, renal failure and even death, while in the fetus it can cause abortion, premature birth, low birth weight, and fetal death. Elevated levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α ) is associated with low birth weight and anemia in pregnant women. This study was conducted to measure the levels of TNF-α in plasma and placental tissue, and hemoglobin levels as well as fetal weight to determine the relationship between them in P. berghei infected pregnant mice and normal pregnant mice. Seventeen BALB/c mice used in this study were divided into two groups, those were the study group (9 pregnant mice infected with P. berghei) and control group (8 pregnant mice not infected with P. berghei). Level of TNF-α were measured using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent assay (R&D Systems, catalog A00B MT). Hemoglobin levels were determined using flowcytometri, whereas fetal weight were performed with Mettler analytical balance AE 50. T-test statistical analysis showed that the levels of TNF-α in plasma and placental tissue in study group were higher than control group (p=0.000, p=0.034). Hemoglobin levels in the study group were lower than control group (p=0.025). Fetal weights were also lower in fetuses of infected mice than fetuses of uninfected mice (p=0.002). Pearson correlation test showed increasing plasma levels of TNF-α in infected P. berghei pregnant mice were related with the decreasing levels of Hb, (r=-0.748; p=0.020,), whereas levels of placental TNF-α were not associated with hemoglobin level (p=0.337). Both plasma and placental levels of TNF-α were not associated with the incidence of fetal low weight (p=0.380, and p=0.365). It can be concluded that the increased levels of TNF-α is associated with decreased levels of hemoglobin (Hb), but not associated with fetal low weight.