Distribution of IgG subclass antibodies specific for Plasmodium falciparum glutamate-rich-protein molecule in sickle cell trait children with asymptomatic infections

• Published in: Experimental parasitology 2006-02, Vol.112 (2), p.92-98
• Main Authors: Matondo Maya, Davy W., Mavoungou, Elie, Deloron, Philippe, Theisen, Michael, Ntoumi, Francine
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age Distribution; Animals; Antibodies; Antibodies, Protozoan - blood; Antibody Specificity; Antigens, Protozoan - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gabon - epidemiology; GLURP; glutamate-rich protein; hemoglobin; Hemoglobin A - genetics; Hemoglobin, Sickle - genetics; Heterozygote; Humans; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Immunoglobulin G - classification; Infant; Life cycle. Host-agent relationship. Pathogenesis; Malaria; Malaria, Falciparum - epidemiology; Malaria, Falciparum - genetics; Malaria, Falciparum - immunology; Male; P. falciparum; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium falciparum - immunology; Protozoa; Protozoan Proteins - immunology; Recombinant Proteins - immunology; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Sex Ratio; Sickle cell trait; Sickle Cell Trait - genetics; Sickle Cell Trait - immunology; Sickle Cell Trait - parasitology
• ISSN: 0014-4894; 1090-2449
• DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2005.09.014

Polymorphism in the β-globin gene (hemoglobin S) has been associated with protection against severe forms of malaria. In a cross-sectional study, 180 young Gabonese children with and without sickle cell trait and harboring asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infections, were assessed for the responses to recombinant protein containing the conserved region of glutamate-rich protein (GLURP). We reported increased age-dependence of antibody prevalence and levels of total IgG ( p < 0.0001), IgG1 ( p = 0.009), and IgG3 ( p < 0.03) antibodies to GLURP with a cut-off at 5 years of age. Whatever the hemoglobin type, cytophilic antibodies (IgG1 and IgG3) were prevalent, but GLURP-specific IgG4 antibodies were detected at significantly ( p < 0.05) lower levels in HbAS children. We showed that the distribution of non-cytophilic IgG antibodies differs according to the hemoglobin type and to the malaria antigens tested. This may have possible implication for the clearance of malaria parasites and for protection against severe malaria.