SynthesisBMC infectious diseases2025
Association between interleukin-2 cytokine levels and Plasmodium infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC infectious diseases, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Immunity beyond borders: non-lethalFrontiers in immunology · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundInterleukin-2 (IL-2) is a central cytokine in T-cell mediated immunity, playing a dual role in both pro-inflammatory responses and immune regulation. While cytokines such as IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) have been extensively studied in malaria pathogenesis, the role of IL-2 remains poorly understood and inconsistently reported across studies. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize available evidence on IL-2 levels in malaria patients and assess their association with disease severity.
methodsA systematic search was conducted across five databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and CENTRAL) without date restrictions. Studies were eligible if they reported IL-2 levels in human participants with malaria, compared to uninfected individuals, and/or across malaria severity. Risk of bias was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tools. Standardized mean differences (SMD) were calculated using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity, subgroup analyses, meta-regression, and publication bias were evaluated using established statistical methods.
resultsOut of 3,023 records screened, 30 studies met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review. Most studies reported no significant differences in IL-2 levels between individuals with malaria and uninfected controls. The meta-analysis confirmed this finding, showing no significant difference (P = 0.25, SMD = 4.56, 95% CI [-3.16; 12.29], I² = 98.6%, 1074 participants, random-effects model). Similarly, the majority of studies comparing IL-2 levels between severe and non-severe malaria cases found no significant differences. Meta-analysis results were consistent, showing no significant association (P = 0.57, SMD = 0.37, 95% CI [-0.91; 1.67], I² = 97.4%, 694 participants, random-effects model). Subgroup analyses suggested that geographic region significantly influenced IL-2 expression patterns.
conclusionThis systematic review and meta-analysis found no consistent evidence of altered IL-2 levels in individuals with Plasmodium infection compared to uninfected controls, nor between patients with severe and non-severe malaria. However, substantial heterogeneity across studies limits the interpretability of these findings. Future well-designed studies that account for geographic, methodological, and host-related factors are needed to determine whether IL-2-alone or in combination with other immunological markers-can serve as a reliable biomarker for malaria infection or disease severity.
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