The nine-repeat DC-SIGNR isoform is associated with increased HIV-RNA loads and HIV sexual transmission.
OBJECTIVE
Determine if different DC-SIGNR genotypes/alleles correlated with HIV susceptibility in the context of the HIV mode of infection, CD4+ T cell counts and blood HIV RNA loads.


METHODS
One hundred forty-five HIV infected individuals and 187 uninfected healthy controls were recruited to observe whether DC-SIGNR genotypes/alleles were correlated with HIV susceptibility, CD4+ T cell numbers and HIV-RNA levels.


RESULTS
The frequencies of DC-SIGNR genotypes/alleles in HIV-infected patients were similar to those seen in the uninfected population. However, the 9-repeat DCSIGNR allele was more frequently found in patients infected via sexual transmission compared to patients infected via blood transmission/intravenous drug use (p = 0.005). HIV RNA levels in patients with the 9- or 7-repeat DC SIGNR allele were significantly higher than the levels observed in patients with the 5-repeat DC SIGNR allele (p = 0.004, p = 0.004, respectively) and the HIV RNA levels in patients with the 9/7 genotype or with the 7/7 genotype were significantly higher than patients with the 7/5 genotype (p = 0.003, p = 0.029, respectively). There were no significant differences between CD4+ T cells in patients with different DC-SIGNR genotypes/alleles.


CONCLUSIONS
No DC-SIGNR genotypes/alleles were associated with reduced HIV susceptibility, however, DC-SIGNR genotypes/alleles with higher repeat numbers were associated with higher HIV-RNA blood levels, that is, the 9-repeat DC-SIGNR allele was significantly associated with increased HIV-RNA levels and HIV sexual transmission.
Xu
Lijun
L
Clinical Center of HIV/AIDS, Fuzhou Infectious Disease Hospital, Fujian Medical University, No.315, Xihong Rd, Fuzhou City 350025, China. xuli-jun@hotmail.com
Li
Qinguang
Q
Ye
Hanhui
H
Zhang
Qiyun
Q
Chen
Huicong
H
Huang
Fan
F
Chen
Ronghua
R
Zhou
Rui
R
Zhou
Wen
W
Xia
Pincang
P
Chen
Yi
Y
Pan
Chen
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006678:HIV / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015658:HIV Infections; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid / Q000235:genetics*; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral; D019562:Viral Load; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
C433029:CLEC4M protein, human; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface