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

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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.