Rougeron V., Woods C. M., Tiedje K. E., Bodeau-Livinec F., Migot Nabias Florence, Deloron Philippe, Luty Adrian, Fowkes F. J. I., Day K. P. (2013). Epistatic interactions between apolipoprotein E and hemoglobin S genes in regulation of malaria parasitemia. Plos One, 8 (10), p. e76924. ISSN 1932-6203.
Titre du document
Epistatic interactions between apolipoprotein E and hemoglobin S genes in regulation of malaria parasitemia
Rougeron V., Woods C. M., Tiedje K. E., Bodeau-Livinec F., Migot Nabias Florence, Deloron Philippe, Luty Adrian, Fowkes F. J. I., Day K. P.
Source
Plos One, 2013,
8 (10), p. e76924 ISSN 1932-6203
Apolipoprotein E is a monomeric protein secreted by the liver and responsible for the transport of plasma cholesterol and triglycerides. The APOE gene encodes 3 isoforms epsilon 4, epsilon 3 and epsilon 2 with APOE epsilon 4 associated with higher plasma cholesterol levels and increased pathogenesis in several infectious diseases (HIV, HSV). Given that cholesterol is an important nutrient for malaria parasites, we examined whether APOE epsilon 4 was a risk factor for Plasmodium infection, in terms of prevalence or parasite density. A cross sectional survey was performed in 508 children aged 1 to 12 years in Gabon during the wet season. Children were screened for Plasmodium spp. infection, APOE and hemoglobin S (HbS) polymorphisms. Median parasite densities were significantly higher in APOE epsilon 4 children for Plasmodium spp. densities compared to non-APOE epsilon 4 children. When stratified for HbS polymorphisms, median Plasmodium spp. densities were significantly higher in HbAA children if they had an APOE epsilon 4 allele compared to those without an APOE epsilon 4 allele. When considering non-APOE epsilon 4 children, there was no quantitative reduction of Plasmodium spp. parasite densities for HbAS compared to HbAA phenotypes. No influence of APOE epsilon 4 on successful Plasmodium liver cell invasion was detected by multiplicity of infection. These results show that the APOE epsilon 4 allele is associated with higher median malaria parasite densities in children likely due to the importance of cholesterol availability to parasite growth and replication. Results suggest an epistatic interaction between APOE and HbS genes such that sickle cell trait only had an effect on parasite density in APOE epsilon 4 children. This suggests a linked pathway of regulation of parasite density involving expression of these genes. These findings have significance for understanding host determinants of regulation of malaria parasite density, the design of clinical trials as well as studies of co-infection with Plasmodium and other pathogens.
Plan de classement
Sciences fondamentales / Techniques d'analyse et de recherche [020]
;
Entomologie médicale / Parasitologie / Virologie [052]
