Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

INTRODUCTION:Polymorphisms in killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene families are implicated in differential outcomes of HIV infection. However, research findings on the influence of KIR and HLA-C polymorphism on HIV disease progression remain inconclusive. We thus investigated the association of KIR and HLA-C gene polymorphisms with plasma HIV load (VL) and CD4+ T lymphocyte (CD4) count in 183 chronically HIV-infected, combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) naïve Zimbabweans of Bantu origin. METHODOLOGY:The presence or absence of 15 KIR genes were determined using sequence specific primer polymerase chain reaction while HLA-C typing was performed using chain termination DNA sequencing. Plasma VL was determined using the Cavidi Exavir viral load version 3 assay while CD4+ T lymphocytes were enumerated using flow cytometry. VLs and CD4 counts were compared between gene/genotype carriers and non-carriers using Mann-Whitney ranksum test. RESULTS:HLA-C*18:01 allele carriers had a significantly lower median log10 VL (2.87copies/mL [IQR;2.3-3.2]) than the non-C*18:01 carriers (3.33copies/mL [IQR; 2.74-3.9]), p = 0.018. Further, median log10 VL was significantly lower in KIR2DL2+C1 carriers (2.745 [IQR; 2.590-2.745]) than non-KIR2DL2+C1 carriers (3.4 [IQR; 2.746-3.412]), p = 0.041. Comparison of CD4 + T lymphocyte counts between C*08:02 allele carriers and non-C*08:02 carriers showed a significantly higher median CD4 count in C*08:02 carriers (548cells/µL [IQR;410-684]) than in non-carriers (428cells/µL [IQR;388-537]), p = 0.034. CONCLUSION:We conclude that the HLA-C*18:01 and KIR2DL2+C1 genetic variants are associated with low VL while the C*08:02 is associated with high CD4+ T lymphocyte count among cART naïve Zimbabwean adults with chronic HIV infection.

Original publication

DOI

10.3855/jidc.10848

Type

Journal article

Journal

Journal of infection in developing countries

Publication Date

31/12/2018

Volume

12

Pages

1105 - 1111

Addresses

University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe. mhandiremhandire@gmail.com.

Keywords

CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes, Humans, HIV Infections, HLA-C Antigens, Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active, Viral Load, Cross-Sectional Studies, Gene Frequency, Polymorphism, Genetic, Adult, Zimbabwe, Receptors, KIR2DL2