Allelic polymorphisms in the repeat and promoter regions of the interleukin-4 gene and malaria severity in Ghanaian children
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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.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Clinical and Experimental Immunology |
Volume | 138 |
Issue number | 1 |
Pages (from-to) | 145-50 |
Number of pages | 5 |
ISSN | 0009-9104 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2004 |
Bibliographical note
Keywords: Alleles; Antibodies, Protozoan; Child; Child, Preschool; Gene Frequency; Genotype; Ghana; Humans; Immunoglobulin E; Infant; Interleukin-4; Linkage Disequilibrium; Malaria, Cerebral; Malaria, Falciparum; Parasitemia; Polymorphism, Genetic; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; Severity of Illness Index
ID: 17274412