Abstract:
Plasmodium falciparum malaria remains a leading cause of morbidity and
mortality among African children. Innate immunity provides the first line of defence against P.
falciparum infections, particularly in young children that lack naturally-acquired malarial
immunity, such as the population examined here. Consistent with the fact that elevated
interleukin (IL)-12 is an important component of the innate immune response that provides
protective immunity against malaria, we have previously shown that suppression of IL-12 in
African children is associated with the development of severe malarial anaemia (SMA).
Since the role of IL12B variants in conditioning susceptibility to SMA remains largely
unexplored, the association between a single nucleotide polymorphism (1188A→ C,
rs3212227), SMA (Hb< 6.0 g/dL), circulating IL-12p40/p70 levels, and longitudinal clinical …