[A10006] Chemokine receptor polymorphisms in Mexican individuals exposed to HIV but non infected

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain — July 7-12, 2002

[TITLE:] Chemokine receptor polymorphisms in Mexican individuals exposed to HIV but non infected

[AUTHOR(S):] F.R.L. Fuentes Romero Luis Leon, R.D.R. Rodriguez Díaz Roberto Alejandro, V.R.M. Viveros Rogel Monica, H.P.A. Huante Perez Alberto, G.S.E. Gonzalez Solis Edna, L.G.D. Leon Garcia Daniel, A.R.F. Anaya Rodriguez Francisco Javier, R.L.M. Rivera Lecona Maria Elena, S.R.L. Soto Ramirez Luis Enrique ¹

Int Conf AIDS. 2002 Jul 7-12;14:Abstract No. A10006

BACKGROUND:Chemokine receptors are co-receptors for HIV entry to its target cells. Chemokine-gene polymorphisms have been related to protection against HIV infection in exposed-non-infected individuals (ENIs). The homozygote deletion of 32 aminoacids (Δ32/Δ32) in the CCR5-gene has been related to resistance to HIV infection.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relevance of the CCR5-gene polymorphisms for the protection against HIV of Mexican exposed-non-infected individuals.

METHODS: HIV seropositive individuals and their seronegative couples with at least one year of exposition were included. Grade of exposition and the seronegativity were evaluated with an interview-questionnaire and serological tests. PCR was performed to amplify a 735 bp fragment of CCR5 gene from PBMCs. Δ32 deletion was determined by enzymatic digestion of the amplified fragment with the EcoRI enzyme.

RESULTS: Thirty six individuals were enrolled, 30 were women (83.3%) with a mean age of 36 years (range: 22-54 ) and 6 were men (16.6%) with a mean age of 27.3 years (range: 12-49 ). The mean time of HIV exposition was 2.48 years for all group and it was significantly higher in women than in men (2.79 vs 0.92 years respectively) ( P< 0.01 Mann Whitney test). All genotypes performed showed a homozygote wild type enzymatic pattern (wt/wt) and the Δ32 was no found.

CONCLUSIONS: In Mexican ENIs Δ32 deletion of CCR5-gene do not explain protection against HIV infection as in the caucasian population. Absence of Δ32 deletion in this population is correlated with its low frequency in the Mexican general population in contrast with caucasian individuals (allelic frecuency 0.015% vs 5% respectively). These result emphasize the racial differences in protection factors for HIV infection. Women had more risk to be infected with HIV than men because they were exposed for longer periods without any kind of protection, even though they knew the serological status of their couple. These social habits should be eradicated.

Presenting Author: Luis Leon Fuentes Romero

1Instituto Nacional Ciencias Médicas y Nutricion Salvador Zubiran, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubiran, Av. Vasco de Quiroga 15 Del. Tlalpan CP14000 México DF, Mexico.

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A10006