Genetic markers at the crossroads: toll-like receptor polymorphisms and Plasmodium vivax malaria parasitological aspects from the Brazil-French Guiana border.

BACKGROUND

Studies relating allelic variants in toll-like receptor (TLR) genes to the parasitological profile of Plasmodium vivax malaria are scarce. Therefore, we sought to assess whether polymorphisms in these genes can influence the clinical and parasitological aspects of individuals with P. vivax malaria in an endemic area from the Brazil-French Guiana border.

METHODS

We analyzed 76 patients with P. vivax malaria. Parasitological parameters were collected, and genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood. The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of TLR4 (rs4986790, rs4986791), TLR6 (rs5743810) and TLR9 genes (rs187084, rs5743836) were genotyped by qPCR. Association between the levels of parasitemia and gametocytes with the SNPs was performed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. Parasitemia and gametocyte levels were adjusted for the polymorphisms using a linear regression model.

RESULTS

There was a correlation between the TLR4 rs4986790, TLR6 rs5743810 and TLR9 rs187084 SNPs and parasitological aspects.

CONCLUSIONS

The results described here suggest that these genes' polymorphisms may have a role in the development of the inflammatory response during P. vivax malaria. The potential implications of these findings are discussed.