Effects of TNF-α and IL-10-819 T>C single nucleotide polymorphisms on urogenital schistosomiasis in preschool children in Zimbabwe

• Main Authors: Chimponda, T. (Author), Mann, J. (Author), Marume, A. (Author), Mduluza, T. (Author), Mushayi, C. (Author), Vengesai, A. (Author)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: AOSIS OpenJournals Publishing AOSIS (Pty) Ltd 2021
• Subjects: adenine; agar gel electrophoresis; allele; amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction; Article; child; controlled study; cross-sectional study; Cytokines; cytosine; female; gene frequency; genotype; guanine; human; infection sensitivity; interleukin 10; major clinical study; male; parasite prevalence; pathogenesis; Polymorphisms; preschool child; Protective immunity; reinfection; sandwich ELISA; Schistosoma haematobium; schistosomiasis; schistosomiasis haematobia; single nucleotide polymorphism; Susceptibility; thymine; tumor necrosis factor; urogenital schistosomiasis; urogenital tract infection; Zimbabwe
• Online Access: View Fulltext in Publisher

 Background: Knowledge gaps exist between host genetic factors and susceptibility to schistosomiasis. Objective: This study determined cytokine levels and single nucleotide polymorphisms of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α (rs1800629) and interleukin (IL)-10 (rs1800871) and their possible impact on susceptibility to schistosomiasis in preschool-age children in the Madziva area of Shamva district, Mashonaland Central province, Zimbabwe. Methods: Urogenital schistosomiasis was diagnosed using the urine filtration method, while a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used for cytokine level determination. The survey was done in August 2015 and reinfection levels post treatment were assessed at 3, 6 and 12 months. Amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction with visualisation on 2% agarose gel electrophoresis was used for genotyping. Results: Schistosomiasis prevalence was found to be 10.5% (59/563). Reinfections were detected in only six children at 3 months and only one was reinfected at 12 months. There were no significant differences in TNF-α-308 G/A allele or genotype frequencies between the Schistosoma haematobium infected participants (p = 0.360) and uninfected participants (p = 0.279). However, no children with the IL-10-819 TT genotype had schistosomiasis. The TNF-α GG genotype corresponded with significantly lower TNF-α levels when compared with the GA or AA genotypes (p < 0.001), and TNF-α levels were significantly lower in infected children compared to uninfected children (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Higher TNF-α levels and lower IL-10 levels are potentially protective against schistosomiasis infection. The IL-10-819 TT genotype is potentially protective against infection through its association with lower IL-10 levels. © 2021 AOSIS OpenJournals Publishing AOSIS (Pty) Ltd. All rights reserved.