Genes, nitric oxide and malaria in African children.
The unresolved and complex relationship between nitric oxide and falciparum malaria is reflected in recent genetic and immunohistochemical studies in African children. Different genetic associations, perhaps geographically distinctive, are seen between genetic variants of the inducible nitric oxide gene and various disease manifestations in African populations. The picture might not be complete without considering the emerging roles of carbon monoxide, another endogenous gaseous mediator with similar effects to those of nitric oxide. Only when genetic comparisons from across tropical Africa are examined, in conjunction with the newly recognized complexities in the events of systemic inflammation, will this relationship be understood.
Clark
Ian A
IA
School of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia. ian.clark@anu.edu.au
Rockett
Kirk A
KA
Burgner
David
D
D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D016207:Cytokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000235:genetics*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
D016207:Cytokines; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; C496319:NOS2 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II