Polymorphism of HLA class I alleles of HIV-infected individuals and its impact on HIV-1 viral load in central China / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the polymorphism of HLA class I alleles of HIV-infected former plasma donors and to investigate its impact on HIV-1 viral load in central China.Methods 106 subjects chronically infected with HIV-1 were recruited and HLA class I alleles were genotyped with PCR-SSP assay.HLA class I genotypes and haplotypes were determined and their association with plasma viral loads were analyzed.Gag-specific CTL responses were detected by an IFN-λ EUSPOT assay by using overlapping peptides,and their association with plasma viral loads were also analyzed.Results Subjects homozygous at HLA class I locus had higher plasma viral loads(P=0.0098);HLA-A*30,-B*13,-Cw*06,-Cw*14 alleles and HLA-A*30/B*13/Cw*06 haplotype were associated with lower plasma viral loads(P=0.0004,0.0103,0.0058,0.0371 and 0.0006);an inverse correlation between p2p7p1p6-specific CTL responses and viral loads in subjects with HLA-A*30/B*13/Cw*06 haplotype as well as an inverse correlation between p17-specific CTL responses and viral loads in subjects with HLA-Cw*14 allele were observed.Conclusion HLA-A*30,-B*13,-Cw*06,-Cw*14 alleles and HLA-A*30/B*13/Cw*06 haplotype were associated with lower plasma viral loads and Gag-specific CTL responses restricted by these HLA alleles may contribute to the protection.