Antimalarial antibody levels and IL4 polymorphism in the Fulani of West Africa.
G Luoni;
F Verra;
B Arcà;
BS Sirima;
M Troye-Blomberg;
M Coluzzi;
D Kwiatkowski;
D Modiano;
(2001)
Antimalarial antibody levels and IL4 polymorphism in the Fulani of West Africa.
Genes and immunity, 2 (7).
pp. 411-414.
ISSN 1466-4879
DOI: 10.1038/sj.gene.6363797
The Fulani are less clinically susceptible and more immunologically responsive to malaria than neighbouring ethnic groups. Here we report that anti-malarial antibody levels show a wide distribution amongst the Fulani themselves, raising the possibility that quantitative analysis within the Fulani may be an efficient way of screening for important genetic factors. The Th2 cytokine interleukin-4 is an obvious candidate: in Fulani, the IL4-524 T allele is at high frequency and is associated with elevated antibody levels against malaria antigens. These data highlight the possibility of combining inter- and intra-ethnic comparisons to characterize critical determinants of malarial immunity in a natural setting.
Item Type | Article |
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ISI | 171980800011 |