Browsing by Author "Kurtzhals, J.L."
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Item Allelic polymorphisms in the repeat and promoter regions of the interleukin-4 gene and malaria severity in Ghanaian children(Clinical and Experimental Immunology, 2004-10) Gyan, B.A.; Goka, B.; Cvetkovic, J.T.; Kurtzhals, J.L.; Adabayeri, V.; Perlmann, H.; Lefvert, A.-K.; Akanmori, B.D.; Troye-Blomberg, M.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.