title: Marked differences in CRP genotype frequencies between the Fulani and sympatric ethnic groups in Africa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase protein that can activate various immune cells and bind to certain Fcgamma receptors. The latter may compete with the binding of IgG antibodies to these receptors and could thereby interfere with the antigen-specific immune response. Polymorphisms in the promoter region of the CRP gene have been strongly associated with the plasma concentration of CRP. The known lower susceptibility to malaria in the Fulani ethnic group, as compared to their sympatric neighbours in Africa, has been linked to different genetic backgrounds. The present study was performed to investigate if polymorphisms in the CRP gene could contribute to the lower susceptibility to malaria seen in the Fulani ethnic group.
  
  
  METHODS
  The CRP -717 T>C, -286 C>T>A, and +1444 C>T polymorphisms were analysed in asymptomatic Fulani and non-Fulani individuals from Mali and Sudan using Pyrosequencing T and TaqMan r MGB probes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rare -286 A allele, previously shown to be associated with increased CRP expression and plasma levels, was shown to be more frequent in the non-Fulani ethnic groups as compared to the sympatric Fulani ethnic group both in Mali and Sudan. The common -717 T allele was more prevalent in the non-Fulani ethnic group compared to the sympatric Fulani ethnic group, but only in Mali. The parasite prevalence was increased for the -286 A allele, but not for the -717 T allele. No differences regarding genotype frequency or parasite prevalence were seen for +1444 C>T.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicate that CRP may play an important role in the immune responses to malaria, and that the -286 C/T/A CRP polymorphism may be a contributing factor to the lower susceptibility to malaria seen in the Fulani.
authors: Department of Cardiology, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden. per.tornvall@karolinska.se.
authors: Elisabeth
authors: E
authors: Israelsson
authors: Mattias
authors: M
authors: Ekström
authors: Amre
authors: A
authors: Nasr
authors: Amagana
authors: A
authors: Dolo
authors: Susannah
authors: S
authors: Kearsley
authors: Gishanthi
authors: G
authors: Arambepola
authors: Manijeh Vafa
authors: MV
authors: Homann
authors: Bakary
authors: B
authors: Maiga
authors: Ogobara K
authors: OK
authors: Doumbo
authors: Gehad
authors: G
authors: Elghazali
authors: Hayder A
authors: HA
authors: Giha
authors: Marita
authors: M
authors: Troye-Blomberg
authors: Klavs
authors: K
authors: Berzins
authors: Per
authors: P
authors: Tornvall
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008302:Mali / Q000453:epidemiology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011157:Population Dynamics; D013397:Sudan / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein