Allelic polymorphisms in the repeat and promoter regions of the interleukin-4 gene and malaria severity in Ghanaian children.
Immunoglobulin E has been associated with severe malaria suggesting a regulatory role for interleukin (IL)-4 and/or IgE in the pathogenesis of severe malaria. We have investigated possible associations between polymorphisms in the IL-4 repeat region (intron 3) and promoter regions (IL-4 +33CT and - 590CT) in Ghanaian children with severe malaria. There was a significantly higher frequency of IL-4 intron-3 B1B1 genotype in the cerebral malaria group [P < 0.0001, odds ratio (OR) = 8.7]. The genotype and allele frequencies of the IL-4 -590 and +33 polymorphisms did not differ between the four study groups. Carriers of IL-4 +33T/-590T with cerebral malaria had elevated total IgE compared to non-carriers (P = 0.03). Our data suggest that IL-4 and/or IgE play a regulatory role in the pathogenesis of severe or complicated malaria.
Gyan
B A
BA
Immunology Unit, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Ghana.
Goka
B
B
Cvetkovic
J T
JT
Kurtzhals
J L
JL
Adabayeri
V
V
Perlmann
H
H
Lefvert
A-K
AK
Akanmori
B D
BD
Troye-Blomberg
M
M
D000483:Alleles; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D007223:Infant; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics*; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium / Q000235:genetics; D016779:Malaria, Cerebral / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid / Q000235:genetics*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E