Duffy Antigen/Receptor for Chemokines (DARC): Is There a Role in Prostate Cancer?.

Abstract

Introduction: The Duffy blood group antigens function as chemokine receptors and as receptors for several species of malarial parasites. Approximately 70% of African Americans are Duffy negative as a result of a single nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter region of the Duffy antigen/receptor for chemokines (DARC) gene in a consensus-binding site for GATA 1. This mutation abolishes the promoter activity in erythrocytes, impairing the expression of DARC on red blood cells. Other than resistance to certain species of malaria, the functional consequence of Duffy negativity is unclear; however, it has recently been proposed that the Duffy antigen acts as a biological ‘sink' to clear pro-inflammatory chemokines from tissue microcirculation. Further it has been suggested that since the incidence of prostate cancer in African Americans is 60% higher than in Caucasians, absence of the Duffy antigen might predispose African Americans to prostate cancer by impairing downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines. We tested the hypothesis that lack of expression of DARC on erythrocytes predisposes African American men to develop prostate cancer.