title: Relationship between alpha+-thalassaemia and glutathione-S-transferases polymorphisms in children with severe malaria in Tanzania.
abstract: Alpha+-thalassaemia is well known for conferring partial protection to severe malaria. On the other, Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) polymorphism has recently been associated to severe malaria in children. A retrospective cross sectional study was carried out to determine the relationship between genotypic polymorphisms of alpha+-thalassaemia and glutathione-S-transferase in children with severe malaria. A total of 148 DNA samples from children aged between 3 and 15 years with mild and severe malaria were retrieved and determined by polymerase chain reaction. Children with Glutathione-S-transferase-pil (GSTP1)-polymorphism were observed to have three fold risk (OR = 2.9; 95% CI =1.3- 6.1; P = 0.006) of developing severe malaria compared to mild malaria in Mnyuzi in Korogwe District, north-eastern, Tanzania. In the presence of Glutathione-S-transferase-pil polymorphism, children were found to have 3% decreased protective effect of alpha+-thalassaemia polymorphisms (homozygotes and heterozygotes) against severe malaria although this was not statistically significant [OR = 0.81 (95% CI = 0.5-1.5; P = 0.5) to OR =0.78(95% CI = 0.4-1.5; P = 0.44)]. We conclude that Glutathione-S-transferase-pil polymorphism increases risk of developing severe malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum in children. The observed inverse relationship between GSTP1 polymorphisms and alpha-thalassaemia to children with severe malaria need further investigation.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Medical Research, Tanga Medical Research Centre, Tanga, Tanzania. freddaesaguti@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Fredy
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Saguti
authors.forename: Sakurani T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Balthazary
authors.forename: Alphaxard
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manjurano
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Max
authors.forename: Filemon
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tenu
authors.forename: Filbert
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: Seif A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Shekalaghe
authors.forename: Reginald A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Kavishe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D051549:Glutathione S-Transferase pi / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013636:Tanzania; D017085:alpha-Thalassemia / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C496556:GSTP1 protein, human; D051549:Glutathione S-Transferase pi