Allelic polymorphisms in the repeat and promoter regions of the interleukin-4 gene and malaria severity in Ghanaian children

Abstract

SUMMARY 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.