ABSTRACT
Clinical protection of Beninese children against Plasmodium falciparum malaria was shown to be influenced by immunoglobulin (IG) Gm and Km allotypes, and related to seroreactivity with the rosette-forming VarO-antigenic variant. IgG to the VarO-infected erythrocyte surface, IgG1 and IgG3 to PfEMP1-NTS-DBL1α(1)-VarO were higher in the under 4-year-old children carrying the Gm 5,6,13,14;1,17 phenotype. In contrast, surface-reactive IgG, total IgG, IgG1 and IgG3 to NTS-DBL1α(1)- and DBL2ßC2-VarO domains were lower in the above 4-year-old children harbouring the Km1 allotype. These data outline an age-related association of antibodies against malaria antigens and IG allotype distribution.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Protozoan/immunology , Immunoglobulin Gm Allotypes/immunology , Immunoglobulin Km Allotypes/immunology , Malaria, Falciparum/immunology , Plasmodium falciparum/immunology , Protozoan Proteins/immunology , Adolescent , Age Factors , Analysis of Variance , Benin/epidemiology , Chi-Square Distribution , Child , Child, Preschool , Cohort Studies , Humans , Immunoglobulin Gm Allotypes/classification , Immunoglobulin Km Allotypes/classification , Infant , Linear Models , Malaria, Falciparum/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Selection pressure exerted by pathogens contributes to the persistence of polymorphisms in GM and KM allotypes, which are antigenic determinants of immunoglobulins. This study investigated the impact of GM and KM allotypes on the clinical response to Plasmodium falciparum infection among Beninese children, including 65 with severe malaria, 37 with uncomplicated malaria, and 53 with asymptomatic carriage. An inverse relationship was found between the GM 5,6,13,14; 1,17 phenotype and uncomplicated malaria. Genetic markers implicated in the composition and activity of immunoglobulins may be associated with the genetic control of both malaria infection and morbidity.
