Abstract:
Plasmodium falciparum is the most dangerous species of Plasmodium parasites in terms of
lethality and morbidity. In different studies, polymorphisms in the tumor necrosis factor
alpha (TNF-α) gene have been associated with increased susceptibility to mild malaria
infection and severe malaria. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of TNF-
α-308 G > A gene polymorphism in P. falciparum malaria infected patients that live in
Dembia Woreda, North Gondar, North West Ethiopia and to assess the effect of TNF-α-308
gene polymorphism and different demographic factors on the risk of malaria infection.
Two hundred blood samples were collected from November to December, 2014, from
clinically confirmed P. falciparum malaria patients (n=100) and from P. falciparum seronegative individuals (n=100) that live in the study area. TNF-α-308 G > A polymorphism
was detected using PCR-RFLP techniques. The allele frequency in malaria patient study
subjects was 0.92 for TNF-α-308G (TNF-1) and 0.08 for TNF-α-308A (TNF-2). The
distribution of TNF-α-308 genotypes in cases (P=0.065) and controls (P=0.677) were
consistent with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. There was no statistically significant
association between TNF-α-308 genotypes and malaria infection (P=0.616). Further studies
with large number of sample size and assessment in different malaria endemic areas of the
country are recommended for generalization.
Key words: Cytokine, Sequestration, Single Nucleotide Polymorphism, TNF-α-308 g
