Abstract
Background The Fc gamma Rs genotypes have been reported to play a key role in the defence against malaria parasites through both cellular and humoral immunity. This study aimed to investigate the possible correlation between Fc gamma R (IIa, IIIa, and IIIb) genes polymorphism and the clinical outcome for anti-malarial antibody response of Plasmodium falciparum infection among Saudi children. Methods A total of 600 volunteers were enrolled in this study, including 200 malaria-free control (MFC) subjects, 218 patients with uncomplicated malaria (UM) and 182 patients with severe malaria (SM). The Fc gamma R genotypes were analysed using PCR amplification methods, and measurements of immunoglobulin were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Results The data revealed that the Fc gamma RIIa-R/R131 showed a statistically significant association with SM patients when compared to UM patients. Furthermore, higher levels of IgG1, IgG2, and IgG4 were associated with the Fc gamma RIIa-H/H131 genotype among UM patients. Although the Fc gamma RIIa-F/V176 genotype was not associated with UM, it showed a significant association with severe malaria. Interestingly, the Fc gamma RIIIa-V/V176 genotype offered protection against SM. Moreover, SM patients carrying the Fc gamma RIIIa-F/F genotype showed higher levels of AMA-1-specific IgG2 and IgG4 antibodies. The Fc gamma RIIIb-NA1/NA1 and Fc gamma RIIIb-NA2/NA2 genotypes did not show significant differences between the UM and the MFC groups. However, the genotype Fc gamma RIIIb-NA2/NA2 was statistically significantly associated with SM patients. Conclusions The data presented in this study suggest that the influence of the Fc gamma RIIa-R/R131, Fc gamma RIIIa-F/F176 and Fc gamma RIIIb-NA2/NA2 genotypes are statistically significantly associated with SM patients. However, the Fc gamma RIIa-H/H13 and Fc gamma RIIIa-V/V176 genotypes have demonstrated a protective effect against SM when compared to UM patients. The impact of the FcyR (IIa, IIIa and IIIb) gene variants and anti-malaria IgG subclasses play an important role in susceptibility to malaria infection and disease outcome in Saudi children.