Frequency of HLA-A＊03 associates with HIV-1 infection in a Chinese cohort

• Published in: Science China. Life sciences Vol. 56; no. 11; pp. 1014 - 1019
• Main Authors: Zhang, Weilun, Wang, Li, Hong, Kunxue, Liu, Yanxin, Su, Bing, Xu, Cheng, Xu, Jianqin, Ruan, Yuhua, Shao, Yimin, Zheng, Dexian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China 01.11.2013
• Subjects: Adult; Case-Control Studies; China; Cohort Studies; Disease Progression; Female; Gene Frequency; HIV Infections - genetics; HIV-1; HLA-A; HLA-A3 Antigen - genetics; Humans; Lymphocyte Count; Male; Middle Aged; Viral Load; Viremia - genetics; 中国人群; 人类白细胞抗原; 感染; 抗体阳性; 联营; 频率; China
• ISSN: 1674-7305; 1869-1889; 1869-1889
• DOI: 10.1007/s11427-013-4555-4

During the early mid-1990s, a number of rural farmers across central China were employed to the unregulated plasma- selling-activity and many of them were infected by HIV-1. However, AIDS progression in the former blood donors （FBDs） is various. The aim of this study is to assess human leukocyte antigen （HLA） class I allele distribution in FBDs and evaluate its association with HIV-1 infection and disease progression. A total of 353 FBDs were enrolled in the cohort including 294 ART na＇fve HIV-1 seropositive and 59 HIV-1 seronegative age-matched subjects. The viral load and CD4/CD8 T cell counts were assessed in all subjects. Compared with HIV-seropositive group, the frequency of HLA-A＊03 in control was significantly higher. After classifying the HLA-B alleles of the subjects according to the presence of Bw4/Bw6 serological epitopes, detri- mental effect of HLA Bw6/Bw6 homozygosity was also confirmed in the HIV-seropositive subjects. This study provides nov- el evidence on HLA class I allele distribution and association of HLA-A＊03 frequency with HIV-1 infection and viremia in the HIV-1 infected FBDs, which may throw light on intervention strategy for the HIV-1 infection and our understanding how host immunity and genetic background affect HIV infection and AIDS progression.