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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

Genes & Immunity volume 4, pages 528–531 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

We examined a 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 χ2 test), 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.

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Acknowledgements

We sincerely thank the patients who participated in this study. This study was supported by the Core University System Exchange Programme under Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, coordinated by the University of Tokyo and Mahidol University, The National Research Council of Thailand, and a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Priority Areas (C) ‘Medical Science’ from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (to JO).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

    J Ohashi, I Naka & K Tokunaga

  2. Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

    J Patarapotikul, H Hananantachai & S Looareesuwan

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  1. J Ohashi
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  2. I Naka
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  3. J Patarapotikul
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Correspondence to J Ohashi.

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Ohashi, J., Naka, I., Patarapotikul, J. et al. 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. Genes Immun 4, 528–531 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.gene.6364010

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