Distribution of HIV-1 resistance-conferring polymorphic alleles SDF-1-3'A, CCR2-64I and CCR5-Delta32 in diverse populations of Andhra Pradesh, South India.

Polymorphic allelic variants of chemokine receptors CCR2 and CCR5, as well as of stromal-derived factor-1 SDF-1, the ligand for the chemokine receptor CXCR4, are known to have protective effects against HIV-1 infection and to be involved with delay in disease progression. We have studied the DNA polymorphisms at the loci that encode these proteins in 525 healthy individuals without any history of HIV-1 infection from 11 diverse populations of Andhra Pradesh, South India. The two protective alleles SDF-1-3'A and CCR2-64I at the SDF-1 and CCR2 loci, respectively, are present in all populations studied, although their frequencies differ considerably across populations (from 17% to 35% for the SDF-1-3'A allele, and from 3% to 17% for CCR2-64I). In contrast the CCR5-Delta32 allele is observed only in three populations (Yamani, Pathan and Kamma), all in low frequencies (i.e. 1% to 3%). The mean number of mutant alleles (for the three loci together) carried by each individual varies from 0.475 (in Vizag Brahmins) to 0.959 (in Bohra Muslims). The estimated relative hazard values for the populations, computed from the three-locus genotype data, are comparable to those from Africa and Southeast Asia, where AIDS is known to be widespread.

Hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis in south India--an autopsy study.

This study is aimed at finding the association of hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis with hepatitis B surface antigen in a particular geographical area, Andhra Pradesh State in South India. In total, 206 cases of autopsy livers were studied for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen by orcein staining. Of the 114 cases of cirrhosis 67.54% were positive for the antigen. There were 13 cases of macronodular, 55 cases of mixed and 46 cases of micronodular cirrhosis. The antigen positivity was 100%, 98.7% and 21.74% respectively. The difference in positivity between micronodular and the other two types of cirrhosis was statistically significant (P less than 0.01). Of the 58 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma, 50 were associated with cirrhosis. In 80% of these cases, hepatitis B surface antigen was demonstrated, whereas 75% of cases of hepatocellular carcinoma not associated with cirrhosis, were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen. The geographical importance of these findings was discussed.