Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Apr 29;10(1):1138.
doi: 10.4102/ajlm.v10i1.1138. eCollection 2021.

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

Amos Marume  1   2 , Theresa Chimponda  3 , Arthur Vengesai  3 , Caroline Mushayi  3 , Jaclyn Mann  1 , Takafira Mduluza  1   3
Affiliations

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

Amos Marume et al. Afr J Lab Med. .

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Schistosoma haematobium; cytokines; polymorphisms; protective immunity; susceptibility.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships that may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Genotypes, cytokine levels and infection status in preschool children from Madziwa, Shamva district, Zimbabwe, September 2018. (a) Genotypes and TNF-α production (mean level for AA is 179.3 ± 31.2 pg/mL n = 34, GA is 176.8 ± 23.8 pg/mL n = 98 and GG is 131.6 ± 36 pg/mL n = 14); (b) TNF-α levels against infection intensity (239 ± 71.6 pg/mL n = 23 and 210 ± 17.6 pg/mL n = 286); (c) Genotypes against IL-10 plasma levels (CC – 528.5 pg/mL, CT – 323.8 pg/mL and TT – 309.4 pg/mL) (d) IL-10 plasma levels against infection status (452.5 pg/mL and 376.4 pg/mL).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Dabo A, Badawi HM, Bary B, et al. . Urinary schistosomiasis among preschool-aged children in Sahelian rural communities in Mali. Parasit Vectors. 2022;4:1–7. 10.1186/1756-3305-4-21 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Midzi N, Mtapuri-Zinyowera S, Mutsaka MJ, et al. . Impact of school based health education on knowledge, attitude and practice of grade three primary school children in Zimbabwe. Community Med Heal Educ. 2014;4:1–8. 10.4172/2161-0711.1000295 - DOI
    1. Poole H, Terlouw DJ, Naunje A, et al. . Schistosomiasis in pre-school-age children and their mothers in Chikhwawa district, Malawi with notes on characterization of schistosomes and snails. Parasit Vectors. 2014;7(153):1–12. 10.1186/1756-3305-7-153 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. World Health Organization . Report of a meeting to review the results of studies on the treatment of schistosomiasis in preschool age children. 2011; WHO: Geneva, p. 13–14.
    1. Osakunor DNM, Woolhouse MEJ, Mutapi F. Paediatric schistosomiasis: What we know and what we need to know. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2018;12(2):1–16. 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006144 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources