Relationship between alpha+-thalassaemia and glutathione-S-transferases polymorphisms in children with severe malaria in Tanzania

• Published in: Tanzania journal of health research Vol. 15; no. 2; pp. 82 - 87
• Main Authors: Saguti, Fredy, Balthazary, Sakurani T, Manjurano, Alphaxard, Max, Robert A, Tenu, Filemon, Francis, Filbert, Shekalaghe, Seif A, Kavishe, Reginald A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tanzania 01-04-2013
• Subjects: Adolescent; alpha-Thalassemia - genetics; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Glutathione S-Transferase pi - genetics; Humans; Malaria, Falciparum - enzymology; Malaria, Falciparum - genetics; Male; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Polymorphism, Genetic; Retrospective Studies; Tanzania; Tanzania
• ISSN: 1821-6404; 1821-9241
• DOI: 10.4314/thrb.v15i2.2

Alpha+-thalassaemia is well known for conferring partial protection to severe malaria. On the other, Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) polymorphism has recently been associated to severe malaria in children. A retrospective cross sectional study was carried out to determine the relationship between genotypic polymorphisms of alpha+-thalassaemia and glutathione-S-transferase in children with severe malaria. A total of 148 DNA samples from children aged between 3 and 15 years with mild and severe malaria were retrieved and determined by polymerase chain reaction. Children with Glutathione-S-transferase-pil (GSTP1)-polymorphism were observed to have three fold risk (OR = 2.9; 95% CI =1.3- 6.1; P = 0.006) of developing severe malaria compared to mild malaria in Mnyuzi in Korogwe District, north-eastern, Tanzania. In the presence of Glutathione-S-transferase-pil polymorphism, children were found to have 3% decreased protective effect of alpha+-thalassaemia polymorphisms (homozygotes and heterozygotes) against severe malaria although this was not statistically significant [OR = 0.81 (95% CI = 0.5-1.5; P = 0.5) to OR =0.78(95% CI = 0.4-1.5; P = 0.44)]. We conclude that Glutathione-S-transferase-pil polymorphism increases risk of developing severe malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum in children. The observed inverse relationship between GSTP1 polymorphisms and alpha-thalassaemia to children with severe malaria need further investigation.