Biomaterial Database

Serum immunoglobulin levels and malaria antibodies in Burkitt's lymphoma. 1979

F K Nkrumah, and A J Sulzer, and S E Maddison

Data are presented to support a relationship between malaria infection and Burkitt's lymphoma in African children. IgG, IgM and IgA levels were measured in sera from Burkitt's lymphoma patients and from sex- and age-matched, nearest-neighbour controls. All three classes of immunoglobulins were present in significantly lower amounts in the sera from Burkitt's lymphoma patients than in the sera from controls. The mechanism of this apparent B-cell suppression is not yet clear. Malaria-specific IgG and IgM antibody titres were determined in the indirect immunofluorescence test. No significant difference in the IgG malaria-specific antibodies was detected between the two groups of sera. Malaria antibody levels measured using IgM specific conjugates were significantly lower in the sera from Burkitt's lymphoma patients in reactions with Plasmodium falciparum antigen. No significant difference was observed when P. malariae was used. Confirmation of this finding would serve as a positive link between Burkitt's lymphoma and P. falciparum infection.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007136	Immunoglobulins	Multi-subunit proteins which function in IMMUNITY. They are produced by B LYMPHOCYTES from the IMMUNOGLOBULIN GENES. They are comprised of two heavy (IMMUNOGLOBULIN HEAVY CHAINS) and two light chains (IMMUNOGLOBULIN LIGHT CHAINS) with additional ancillary polypeptide chains depending on their isoforms. The variety of isoforms include monomeric or polymeric forms, and transmembrane forms (B-CELL ANTIGEN RECEPTORS) or secreted forms (ANTIBODIES). They are divided by the amino acid sequence of their heavy chains into five classes (IMMUNOGLOBULIN A; IMMUNOGLOBULIN D; IMMUNOGLOBULIN E; IMMUNOGLOBULIN G; IMMUNOGLOBULIN M) and various subclasses.	Globulins, Immune,Immune Globulin,Immune Globulins,Immunoglobulin,Globulin, Immune
D008288	Malaria	A protozoan disease caused in humans by four species of the PLASMODIUM genus: PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM; PLASMODIUM VIVAX; PLASMODIUM OVALE; and PLASMODIUM MALARIAE; and transmitted by the bite of an infected female mosquito of the genus ANOPHELES. Malaria is endemic in parts of Asia, Africa, Central and South America, Oceania, and certain Caribbean islands. It is characterized by extreme exhaustion associated with paroxysms of high FEVER; SWEATING; shaking CHILLS; and ANEMIA. Malaria in ANIMALS is caused by other species of plasmodia.	Marsh Fever,Plasmodium Infections,Remittent Fever,Infections, Plasmodium,Paludism,Fever, Marsh,Fever, Remittent,Infection, Plasmodium,Plasmodium Infection
D010963	Plasmodium falciparum	A species of protozoa that is the causal agent of falciparum malaria (MALARIA, FALCIPARUM). It is most prevalent in the tropics and subtropics.	Plasmodium falciparums,falciparums, Plasmodium
D002051	Burkitt Lymphoma	A form of undifferentiated malignant LYMPHOMA usually found in central Africa, but also reported in other parts of the world. It is commonly manifested as a large osteolytic lesion in the jaw or as an abdominal mass. B-cell antigens are expressed on the immature cells that make up the tumor in virtually all cases of Burkitt lymphoma. The Epstein-Barr virus (HERPESVIRUS 4, HUMAN) has been isolated from Burkitt lymphoma cases in Africa and it is implicated as the causative agent in these cases; however, most non-African cases are EBV-negative.	African Lymphoma,Burkitt Cell Leukemia,Burkitt Tumor,Lymphoma, Burkitt,Burkitt Leukemia,Burkitt's Leukemia,Burkitt's Lymphoma,Burkitt's Tumor,Leukemia, Lymphoblastic, Burkitt-Type,Leukemia, Lymphocytic, L3,Lymphocytic Leukemia, L3,Burkitts Leukemia,Burkitts Lymphoma,Burkitts Tumor,L3 Lymphocytic Leukemia,L3 Lymphocytic Leukemias,Leukemia, Burkitt,Leukemia, Burkitt Cell,Leukemia, Burkitt's,Leukemia, L3 Lymphocytic,Lymphoma, African,Lymphoma, Burkitt's,Tumor, Burkitt,Tumor, Burkitt's
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293	Adolescent	A person 13 to 18 years of age.	Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000906	Antibodies	Immunoglobulin molecules having a specific amino acid sequence by virtue of which they interact only with the ANTIGEN (or a very similar shape) that induced their synthesis in cells of the lymphoid series (especially PLASMA CELLS).