The Robust and Modulated Biomarker Network Elicited by the Plasmodium vivax Infection Is Mainly Mediated by the IL-6/IL-10 Axis and Is Associated with the Parasite Load
Figure 4
Interactions among serum biomarkers. Plasma levels of IL-1β, IL-6, CXCL-8, TNF-, IL-12p70, IFN-, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 were measured in the serum of healthy donors and P. vivax-infected subjects. Each connecting line represents a significant correlation between a pair of biomarkers. Dashed lines represent negative correlations. Solid lines represent positive correlations, and the degree of significance is represented by the line thickness. Filled circles represent higher producers and open circles represent low producers of a specific biomarker. (a) and (b) represent biomarker interactions in HD (a) and P. vivax-infected subjects (b). (c) and (d) represent biomarker interaction in P. vivax presenting low (low) and high parasitemia (right). (e) represents biomarkers interactions that are preserved upon P. vivax infection and interactions gained or lost during malaria. Circle layouts underscore each biomarker by globular nodes ( or , as the comprise <50% or >50% frequencies of individuals with high serum levels, resp.). Spearman “” indexes were used to classify the connecting edges as negative, moderate, or strong positive correlation, as shown in the figure.
