Presence of the variant mannose-binding lectin alleles associated with slower progression to AIDS. Amsterdam Cohort Study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between mannose-binding lectin (MBL) polymorphism and progression to AIDS and death in HIV-1 infection.


METHODS
In 131 HIV-1-infected homosexual seroconverters, survival analyses were performed to determine both the association between MBL genotype and time from HIV-1 seroconversion to AIDS and death, and time from AIDS to death.


RESULTS
Of the 131 seroconverters, of whom 61 developed AIDS, 76 were typed as homozygous wild-type and 55 as carriers of variant alleles (52 heterozygous and three homozygous variant alleles). A Survival analyses suggested that HIV-1-infected men with the variant alleles progressed somewhat slower to AIDS [relative hazard (RH), 0.62; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.36-1.10] and death (RH, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.42-1.25). Interestingly, CD4+ T-cell count determined at the moment of AIDS was found to be significantly lower among persons with the mutation (97 x 10(6)/l versus 204 x 10(6)/l; P=0.03). Furthermore, when AIDS-free times before the diagnosis of an opportunistic infection were compared with those preceding a diagnosis of Kaposi's sarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma diagnosis was more postponed than that of an opportunistic infection (RH, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.05-0.95; versus RH, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.35-1.27).


CONCLUSIONS
Indications for a weak pre-AIDS protective effect of variant MBL alleles were demonstrated.
Maas
J
J
Department of Public Health and Environment, Municipal Health Service, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
de Roda Husman
A M
AM
Brouwer
M
M
Krol
A
A
Coutinho
R
R
Keet
I
I
van Leeuwen
R
R
Schuitemaker
H
H
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D037222:Collectins; D018450:Disease Progression; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D014644:Genetic Variation; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D037222:Collectins