Lactase persistence genotypes and malaria susceptibility in Fulani of Mali

During the last 10,000 years protection against malaria and lactase persistence have been two of the strongest selection forces shaping the human genome [1, 2]. Protection against malaria has been important particularly in the holoendemic regions of tropical Africa. On the other hand, lactase persistence, allowing adults to drink milk, has been shown to be beneficial in all regions where the climate and environment have made it possible to herd dairy cattle [1]. In Western Africa, these two environmental forces of selection have converged as the nomadic Fulani people have settled in i.e. Mali, Guinea Conakry, Senegal, Gambia and Burkina Faso.

The Fulani are traditionally a nomadic, pastoralist, trading people, herding cattle, goats and sheep across the vast dry hinterlands of their domain, where they live in sympatry with the local agricultural populations. As lactose tolerance is generally rare among African ethnic groups, the Fulani with around 50% clinical lactose tolerance are an obvious exception among their sympatrics [3‐5].

Lactase non-persistence (adult-type hypolactasia, "lactose intolerance") is a genetically determined normal trait where down-regulation of lactase activity occurs during childhood [6]. Mutations to tolerate milk lactose have occurred in human history enabling adults to use dairy products. Several single nucleotide polymorphisms have been identified to be associated with lactase persistence in the enhancer region residing 13.9 kb upstream of the lactase gene (LCT) at 2q21-22 [3, 7‐10].

Fulani people have been shown to be more resistant to malaria infection compared to other sympatric tribes in Western Africa [11]. Some differences in the immune responses have been shown, but still the complete explanation of this phenomenon has remained unsolved.

The hypothesis of this study postulates that the partial malaria resistance could be associated to the dietary habits of the Fulani. Fulani has a tradition of abundant milk consumption and are known to use more milk than sympatric tribes. In the study area the Dogon also use milk, but not as much as the Fulani. To test this hypothesis, the 400 bp region covering the known lactase persistence variants was screened and the association between lactase persistence genotypes and malaria indices in 162 Fulani and 79 Dogon individuals was analysed.

The enhancer region 14 kb upstream of the lactase gene, where the previously identified functional polymorphisms are located, was sequenced. In populations with European origin, C/T_-13910 is the main causative mutation for lactase persistence [7]. In Africa, several polymorphisms in the enhancer region of the lactase gene have been suggested to be associated with lactase persistence (Figure 1).

In the sequenced region, four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were detected in the Fulani and Dogon under investigation (Table 1). C/T_-13910 mutation, which is rare in most African populations, was found with a frequency of 37% in Fulani. Previously it has been detected with a minor allele frequency of 48% in Fulani from Sudan [4].

The mutation G/A_-14107 previously reported in Ghana [16] had a minor allele frequency of 3.7% among Fulani. G/A_-13915 is the founder lactase persistence variant among Urban Saudi population [8], and was seen in two heterozygote Fulani. One novel DNA polymorphism, C/T_-13906, in the immediate proximity of the main European mutation, was found in six of the Fulani samples.

Of the 79 individuals belonging to the Dogon ethnic group, only one individual had a variant in the analysed region. This was a heterozygote of the globally most common mutation C/T at locus -13910.

To assess the hypothesised association between lactase persistence and malaria, the occurrence of the main functional C/T_-13910 variant in Fulani was analysed (Table 2). At this locus, CC corresponds to lactase non-persistence, and both CT and TT to lactase persistence [7]. Among the Fulani with the CC genotype, 24% had malaria parasites present in the peripheral blood detectable with microscopy compared to 18% of those with genotypes CT/TT (P = 0.19, odds ratio 1.70, 95% confidence interval 0.72-4.03). The diagnostic PCR for P. falciparum was positive in 60% of subjects with lactase non-persistence (CC) and in 51% of lactase persistence (CT/TT) (P = 0.29, OR 1.41, 95% CI 0.71-2.80).

Among the subjects with the CC genotype, splenomegaly was seen in 39% (25/65) and among the TC/TT genotypes in 35% (34/97) of the Fulani. Anemia was present in 56% (36/64) of CC individuals and in 58% (56/97) of TC/TT individuals. These differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05).

Assuming that all the detected SNPs in the lactase enhancer region would be functional, all patients with at least one polymorphic allele were pooled and then compared against the wild-type homozygotes (Table 2). The difference between at least one polymorphism in any of the loci and wild-type homozygotes was not significant either, even though a trend of more microscopy positive individuals in the lactase non-persistence group in comparison with the lactase persistence group was observed (p = 0.11, OR 1.89, 95% CI 0.79-4.51).

Several studies in Burkina Faso have indicated that people belonging to the Fulani tribe are less parasitized, have fewer clinical episodes of malaria, and higher levels of anti-malarial antibodies as compared to the sympatric ethnic groups Mossi and Rimabé, despite similar transmission intensity [17‐21]. In Mali, Fulani have lower parasite density and are less affected by the disease compared to sympatric Dogon [22]. The more susceptible Dogon population seemed to respond to infections with pronounced splenomegaly, whereas Fulani have chronically enlarged spleens already functional for protection.

The reason for malaria resistance in Fulani is still unknown, but suggested mechanisms include a functional deficiency of regulatory T cells [21] and different antibody- and cytokine-mediated responses [23, 24]. However, not much attention has been paid to the possible role of the different diets between Fulani and sympatric tribes. The Fulani diet is known to be mainly based on cow milk and also meat consumption is high. No detailed information on dietary habits of study subjects was available, although research on the subject is underway, so local observations and general knowledge on traditions of abundant milk consumption among Fulani in Western Africa were applied as sources of dietary data on population level. In a study in Nigeria, Fulani were described to get 28-29% of their total energy intake from milk products, which would correspond to about 700 grams of milk daily [25]. This amount of milk would probably cause symptoms for lactase non-persistence adults. Thus it is likely that Fulani in Mali with lactase persistence genotypes consume more milk than those with non-persistence genotypes.

The hypothesis of the present study postulates that the increased ability to drink milk in individuals with lactase persistence genotypes may offer protection against malaria infection. In human evolution, lactase activity has been maintained by mutations in the enhancer region of the lactase gene in those populations which herd livestock and will thus benefit substantially from the ability to use dairy products as part of the adults' diet. Several such mutations have enriched over time in isolated livestock herding populations, although smaller than expected differences among these genetically diverse populations have been reported [26]. In populations with European origin, C/T_-13910 is the main causative mutation for lactase persistence [7]. In Africa several polymorphisms in the enhancer region of the lactase gene have been suggested to be associated with lactase persistence (Figure 1). Among the 162 Fulani genotyped, the major Caucasian mutation C/T_-13910 was by far the most common polymorphism with an allele frequency of 37%. This means that 60% of the Fulani carry the lactase persistence genotype. Possibly the above described sympatry with other ethnic groups is responsible for the lower minor allele frequency found in this study than the one described by Enattah et al[4]. Three other SNPs in the region were found. They were found as heterozygotes in twelve, six and two subjects each. Among the 79 Dogon samples tested only one heterozygote of a lactase enhancer polymorphism, the main European mutation, was detected.

Results show that P. falciparum parasitaemia in asymptomatic Fulani is more common in individuals with lactase non-persistence genotypes. However, this finding was not statistically significant as this study did not have power to detect a difference with odds ratio smaller than 2.7. The rarity of the SNPs among Dogon and among other non-pastoralist populations in Africa further supports the hypothesis. Asymptomatic parasitaemia was used as the main phenotype, assessment of the suggested protective effects of lactase persistence on clinical malaria episodes, severe malaria or malaria mortality was not applicable. The novel T/C_-13906 polymorphism detected in this study cannot be claimed to be functional without lactose tolerance test or intestinal biopsy on individuals with this variant. However, the location only 4 bp from the main mutation supports the possibility of functionality. In addition, the lack of polymorphisms in the Dogon subjects suggests that the variability in the Fulani lactase enhancer region is caused by ongoing selection for which functionality is a prerequisite.

The potential protective role of milk consumption in malaria infections has been debated for more than half a century. Studies in the 1950s indicated that a cow milk diet has a suppressive effect on malaria infections in rats, mice and monkeys [27]. The suppression of the normal replication of the parasites was suggested to be caused mainly by the deficiency of p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), as milk is lacking PABA in contrast to normal diets [28]. Plasmodium species can synthesize PABA de novo, but probably not in sufficient amounts to survive without dietary intake by the host [29].

Infants under six months of age have a lower incidence of severe malaria than older children, which mainly has been explained by maternal antibodies acquired through breast-feeding. Deficiency of PABA might be another reason, especially for children exclusively breast fed. Additionally, there might be other still unidentified anti-malarial properties of milk, as it consists of numerous probiotics, innate immunity components (i.e. mannose binding-lectin, properdin, interferons), cytokines, chemokines and anti-inflammatory factors [30].

The relationship between nutrition and malaria seems to be complex. In the 1990s it was suggested that lactase non-persistence would have been selected by malaria, like beta-thalassaemia and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency [31, 32]. This hypothesis was soon rejected, as it was based on the false assumption that the lactase persistence trait would be the wild-type allele [33, 34]. Reduced malaria morbidity in malnourished children and malaria outbreaks following refeeding after famines in Africa has been reported [35]. However, Fulani with diets consisting mainly of milk, did not have increased incidences of severe malaria after refeeding [36].

The potential protective role against malaria infection achieved by abundant milk consumption, allowed by lactase persistence genotypes, could have many explanations. First, milk might provide a generally increased nutritional status being rich in energy, proteins and fatty acids. Secondly, milk consists of a large number of immunomodulating components. Third, a diet dominated by dairy products might lead to a relative PABA deficiency, protecting from malaria. Additionally, there might be still unrecognized factors in milk providing protection against malaria and other infections.

Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia in asymptomatic Fulani is more common in individuals with lactase non-persistence genotypes, but this difference is not statistically significant. A novel polymorphism in the LCT enhancer region was discovered with potential functional importance. The lack of LCT enhancer region polymorphisms in the sympatric Dogon suggests positive selection in the Fulani who have access to dietary milk. The potential immunoprotective properties of dietary cow milk as a reason for the partial malaria resistance of Fulani warrant further investigation.