A single-nucleotide substitution from C to T at position - 1055 in the IL-13 promoter is associated with protection from severe malaria in Thailand

Abstract

We examined possible association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoters of IL-3, IL-4, and IL- 13 genes on the 5q31-33, IL-3 - 16T> C, IL-4 - 590T> C, and IL-13 - 1055C> T, with severity of malaria in 361 adult malaria patients in Thailand. The IL-13 - 1055T allele showed a significant association with protection from severe malaria (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.32-0.80; P= 0.0032 by the χ2test), while allele frequencies of IL-3 - 16T> C and IL-4 -590T> C were not statistically different between mild and severe malaria patients. An IL-13 - 1055C> T has been reported to alter the regulation of IL-13 production. Thus, IL-13 - 1055T may show resistance to severe malaria through the alteration of IL-13 production. © 2003 Nature Publishing Group All rights reserved.