RESUMO
One of the main characteristics of HIV-1 infection is persistent systemic immune activation. This immune activation and dysregulation is characterized by a specific pattern of cytokine production, expression of membrane activation molecules on the cells of the immune system, and changes in the levels of several immune parameters in blood. Therefore, the aim of the present work was to evaluate the effect of a Taq1 polymorphism in the 3'UTR of the IL-12B gene at position -1188 (A/C) and the biallelic polymorphism in the first intron of IFN-gamma at position +874 (T/A) on HIV-1/AIDS among north Indian population. IL-12B and IFN-gamma gene polymorphisms were studied in 300 patients with HIV-1/AIDS and an equal number of negatively diagnosed controls of the matched age, using DNA-based polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers and restriction digestion. The allelic as well as genotypic frequencies of interleukin-12B gene polymorphisms did not significantly differ between HIV-1/AIDS patients and negative healthy controls. A statistically significant correlation was found between IFN-gamma polymorphism and the risk of the disease. The present study suggested that individuals with mutant homozygous IFN-gamma AA genotype were at risk of HIV-1/AIDS (OR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.14-3.10, P = 0.008).
Assuntos
Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida/genética , Infecções por HIV/genética , HIV-1/genética , Interferon gama/genética , Subunidade p40 da Interleucina-12/genética , Polimorfismo Genético/genética , Adulto , Feminino , Predisposição Genética para Doença/genética , Genótipo , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Polimorfismo de Fragmento de Restrição , Adulto JovemRESUMO
HIV-1 epidemic in India is largely driven by subtype C but other subtypes or recombinants have also been reported from several states of India. This is mainly due to the co-circulation of other genetic subtypes that potentially can recombine to generate recombinant/mosaic genomes. In this study, we report detail genetic characterization of HIV-1 envelope sequences from North India (Delhi and neighboring regions). Six of 13 were related to subtype C, one B and the rest six showed relatedness with CRF02_AG strain. The subtype C possessed the highly conserved GPGQ motif but subtype B possessed the GPGR motif in the V3 loop as observed earlier. While most of the sequences suggested CCR5 co-receptor usage, one subtype C sample clearly indicated CXCR4 usage. A successful mother to child transmission was established in two pairs. Thus, co-circulation of multiple subtypes (B and C) and the recombinant CRF02_AG strains in North India suggests a rapidly evolving scenario of HIV-1 epidemic in this region with impact on vaccine formulation. Since this is the first report of CRF02_AG envelope from India, it will be important to monitor the spread of this strain and its impact on HIV-1 transmission in India.
