Lack of association of the HbE variant with protection from cerebral malaria in Thailand.
Hemoglobin E (HbE; beta26Glu --> Lys) is the most common variant of the beta-globin gene in Southeast Asia; it has been suggested that it confers resistance against Plasmodium falciparum malaria. In this study 306 adult patients with P. falciparum malaria (198 mild and 108 cerebral malaria patients) living in northwest Thailand were investigated to examine whether the HbE variant is associated with protection from cerebral malaria. Our results revealed that the sample allele frequency of HbE was not significantly different between mild (7.3%) and cerebral malaria (7.4%) patients. Thus, the HbA/HbE polymorphism would not be a major genetic factor influencing the onset of cerebral malaria in Thailand.
Naka
Izumi
I
Department of Human Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
Ohashi
Jun
J
Nuchnoi
Pornlada
P
Hananantachai
Hathairad
H
Looareesuwan
Sornchai
S
Tokunaga
Katsushi
K
Patarapotikul
Jintana
J
D000328:Adult; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006441:Hemoglobin A / Q000235:genetics; D006446:Hemoglobin E / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D016779:Malaria, Cerebral / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D013785:Thailand; D055815:Young Adult
D006441:Hemoglobin A; D006446:Hemoglobin E