Abstract:
This paper aimed to investigate the influence of polymorphisms in the FCGR2A gene
encoding R131H FcgRIIA variants and in the FCGR3B gene (108G > C, 114C > T, 194 A > G, 233C > A,
244 G > A and 316G > A) encoding FcgRIIIB-NA1, -NA2 and -SH variants on malaria susceptibility
and antibody responses against P. falciparum merozoite antigens in Beninese children. An active
malaria follow-up was conducted in infants from birth to 24 months of age in Allada, Benin. FCGR3B
exon 3 was sequenced and FCGR2A exon 4 was genotyped. Antibodies directed to GLURP and
MSP3 were quantified by ELISA. Association studies were performed using mixed-effect models.
Individual carriage of FCGR3B 194 AA genotype was associated with a high number of malaria
infections and a low level of IgG1 against MSP3 and GLURP-R0. High parasitemia and increased
malaria infections were observed in infants carrying the FCGR3B*05 108C-114T-194A-233C-244A 316A haplotype. A reduced risk of malaria infections and low parasitemia were related to the
carriages of the FCGR3B 108C-114T-194G-233C-244G-316A (FCGR3B*06), FCGR3B 108C–114T–194G–
233A–244A–316A (FCGR3B*03 encoding for FcgRIIIB-SH) haplotypes and FCGR3B 297 TT genotype.
Our results highlight the impact of FCGR3B polymorphisms on the individual susceptibility to
malaria and antibody responses against MSP3 and GLURP in Beninese children.