Impact of variants of MMP-7(-181A>G) gene in susceptibility to the development of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder and its severity.

The HIV-1-induced neurological toxicity has been associated with the deficiency of matrix metalloproteinases. Tat protein of HIV up regulates MMP-7 release and activation, leading to neurotoxicity. The SNP -181A>G of MMP-7 is known to have functional effects on its promoter activity. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the association of variants of MMP-7 -181A>G gene in HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). In the present case-control study, we recruited 50 HIV-infected individuals with HAND, 130 HIV-infected individuals without HAND and 150 unrelated healthy individuals. Polymorphism for MMP-7 -181A>G gene was genotyped by PCR-RFLP method. Frequency of -181GG and G allele of MMP-7 did not differ significantly between patients with HAND and without HAND (8.0% vs 13.1%, p = 0.22 and 31% vs 38.1%, p = 0.21). Individuals with -181 AG, -181GG genotype, and G allele of MMP-7 were found to have reduced the risk of development of HAND but not significant (50.0% vs 51.9%, p = 0.09, OR = 0.54; 13.1% vs 19.0%, p = 0.33, OR = 0.71 and 38.1% vs 44.9%, p = 0.09, OR = 0.75). Individuals in early HIV disease stage having -181AG genotype and -181AG + GG combined genotype of MMP-7 were not associated with the development of HAND (OR = 1.27, p = 0.25 and OR = 1.25, p = 0.17). Tobacco and alcohol consumption among individuals with any genotype of MMP-7 was not associated with the risk of development of HAND. In conclusion, individuals with -181GG genotype and G allele had no impact on susceptibility to the development of HAND and its severity.

Coding region variant 186H/R in Exon 4 of APOBEC3G among individuals of Western India.

The allelic variations in the AIDS restriction genes have been associated with the acquisition of HIV-1 and its progression. The distribution of antiviral gene variants significantly differs between populations. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the distribution of variant allele of 186H/R in exon4 of APOBEC3G between HIV infected individuals and healthy controls among western Indian.In the present cross-sectional study, we enrolled a total of 153 HIV-infected patients confirmed and 156 unrelated healthy individuals. Polymorphism for 186H/R in exon4 of APOBEC3G gene was genotyped by PCR-RFLP. With the frequency of 186HR heterozygous genotype of APOBEC3G was found to be 13% in healthy controls and none in HIV infected cases. The frequency of 186HH common genotype of APOBEC3G was observed higher in HIV infected individuals compared with healthy controls (100% vs 91.7%). The variant genotype 186RR in APOBEC3G was not found in both the groups. The frequency of 186R allele of APOBEC3G was found 4.16% in healthy controls and nil in HIV-infected cases. The frequency of 186H allele of APOBEC3G was found to be higher in HIV-infected cases compared with healthy controls (100% vs 95.83%). The frequency of 186R allele in exon4 of APOBEC3G was found to be 4.16% in healthy controls. This observation differs from the previous report published from North India stating the absence of 186R allele of APOBEC3G in the North Indian individuals. The variant 186H/R in exon4 of APOBEC3G was neither associated with risk of acquisition of HIV-1 nor its progression.