Fig. 5

Proposed model of the relation between haemolysis, IFN-γ, IL-10, HO-1 and parasitaemia in subclinically infected children. Approximately half the children with subclinical malaria infection had anaemia, but neither the Hb concentration nor the proportion of those with anaemia differed from uninfected children (Fig. 1). However, those who were PCR positive for Plasmodium falciparum had evidence of haemolysis (haem and haemopexin, HPX). Further, while the level of circulating parasites correlated with IL-10 concentration, it did not correlate with free haem, IFN-γ or haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1) induction. Rather, HO-1 levels were positively correlated with circulating free haem and, to a lesser extent, with IL-10 concentrations. Line thickness represents significance level; 6pt = p < 0.001, 3pt = p > 0.001 to p = 0.05, 1/2pt = p > 0.05