A single-nucleotide substitution from C to T at position -1055 in the IL-13 promoter is associated with protection from severe malaria in Thailand.
We examined a possible association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoters of IL-3, IL-4, and IL-13 genes on the 5q31-33, IL-3 -16T>C, IL-4 -590T>C, and IL-13 -1055C>T, with severity of malaria in 361 adult malaria patients in Thailand. The IL-13 -1055T allele showed a significant association with protection from severe malaria (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.32-0.80; P=0.0032 by the chi(2) test), while allele frequencies of IL-3 -16T>C and IL-4 -590T>C were not statistically different between mild and severe malaria patients. An IL-13 -1055C>T has been reported to alter the regulation of IL-13 production. Thus, IL-13 -1055T may show resistance to severe malaria through the alteration of IL-13 production.
Ohashi
J
J
Department of Human Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. juno@m.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Naka
I
I
Patarapotikul
J
J
Hananantachai
H
H
Looareesuwan
S
S
Tokunaga
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000818:Animals; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000235:genetics*; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000472:pathogenicity; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology
D018793:Interleukin-13