Doxycycline reduces plasma VEGF-c/sVEGFR-3 and improves pathology in lymphatic filariasis



Debrah, Alexander Yaw, Mand, Sabine, Specht, Sabine, Marfo-Debrekyei, Yeboah, Batsa, Linda, Pfarr, Kenneth, Larbi, John, Lawson, Bernard, Taylor, Mark, Adjei, Ohene
et al (show 1 more authors) (2006) Doxycycline reduces plasma VEGF-c/sVEGFR-3 and improves pathology in lymphatic filariasis. PLOS PATHOGENS, 2 (9). pp. 829-843.

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Abstract

Lymphatic filariasis is a disease of considerable socioeconomic burden in the tropics. Presently used antifilarial drugs are able to strongly reduce transmission and will thus ultimately lower the burden of morbidity associated with the infection, however, a chemotherapeutic principle that directly induces a halt or improvement in the progression of the morbidity in already infected individuals would constitute a major lead. In search of such a more-effective drug to complement the existing ones, in an area endemic for bancroftian filariasis in Ghana, 33 microfilaremic and 18 lymphedema patients took part in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a 6-wk regimen of 200 mg/day doxycycline. Four months after doxycycline treatment, all patients received 150-200 microg/kg ivermectin and 400 mg albendazole. Patients were monitored for Wolbachia and microfilaria loads, antigenemia, filarial dance sign (FDS), dilation of supratesticular lymphatic vessels, and plasma levels of lymphangiogenic factors (vascular endothelial growth factor-C [VEGF-C] and soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 [(s)VEGFR-3]). Lymphedema patients were additionally monitored for stage (grade) of lymphedema and the circumferences of affected legs. Wolbachia load, microfilaremia, antigenemia, and frequency of FDS were significantly reduced in microfilaremic patients up to 24 mo in the doxycycline group compared to the placebo group. The mean dilation of supratesticular lymphatic vessels in doxycycline-treated patients was reduced significantly at 24 mo, whereas there was no improvement in the placebo group. Preceding clinical improvement, at 12 mo, the mean plasma levels of VEGF-C and sVEGFR-3 decreased significantly in the doxycycline-treated patients to a level close to that of endemic normal values, whereas there was no significant reduction in the placebo patients. The extent of disease in lymphedema patients significantly improved following doxycycline, with the mean stage of lymphedema in the doxycycline-treated patients being significantly lower compared to placebo patients 12 mo after treatment. The reduction in the stages manifested as better skin texture, a reduction of deep folds, and fewer deep skin folds. In conclusion, a 6-wk regimen of antifilarial treatment with doxycycline against W. bancrofti showed a strong macrofilaricidal activity and reduction in plasma levels of VEGF-C/sVEGFR-3, the latter being associated with amelioration of supratesticular dilated lymphatic vessels and with an improvement of pathology in lymphatic filariasis patients.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Published: September 15, 2006. Citation: Debrah AY, Mand S, Specht S, Marfo-Debrekyei Y, Batsa L, et al. (2006) Doxycycline Reduces Plasma VEGF-C/sVEGFR-3 and Improves Pathology in Lymphatic Filariasis. PLoS Pathog 2(9): e92. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.0020092
Uncontrolled Keywords: Testis, Lymphatic System, Animals, Humans, Wolbachia, Parasitemia, Elephantiasis, Filarial, Doxycycline, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3, Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C, Filaricides, Ultrasonography, Treatment Outcome, Molecular Sequence Data, Adult, Middle Aged, Female, Male, Testicular Hydrocele, Microfilariae
Subjects: ?? RB ??
Divisions: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 24 Jul 2008 10:08
Last Modified: 15 Dec 2022 23:53
DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.0020092
Publisher's Statement : Copyright: © 2006 Debrah et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/808