title: Characterization of mannose-binding lectin plasma levels and genetic polymorphisms in HIV-1-infected individuals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study investigated the association between mannose-binding lectin (MBL) gene polymorphism and serum levels with infection by HIV-1.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples (5 mL) were collected from 97 HIV-1-infected individuals resident in Belém, State of Pará, Brazil, who attended the Special Outpatient Unit for Infections and Parasitic Diseases (URE-DIPE). CD4+ T-lymphocyte count and plasma viral load were quantified. A 349bp fragment of exon 1 of the MBL was amplified via PCR, using genomic DNA extracted from controls and HIV-1-infected individuals, following established protocols. MBL plasma levels of the patients were quantified using an enzyme immunoassay kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two alleles were observed: MBL*O, with a frequency of 26.3% in HIV-1-infected individuals; and the wild allele MBL*A (73.7%). Similar frequencies were observed in the control group (p > 0.05). Genotype frequencies were distributed according to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in both groups. Mean MBL plasma levels varied by genotype, with statistically significant differences between the AA and AO (p < 0.0001), and AA and OO (p < 0.001) genotypes, but not AO and OO (p = 0.17). Additionally, CD4+ T-lymphocytes and plasma viral load levels did not differ significantly by genotype (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study do not support the hypothesis that MBL gene polymorphism or low plasma MBL concentrations might have a direct influence on HIV-1 infection, although a broader study involving a large number of patients is needed.
authors.affiliation: Virus Laboratory, Institute of Biological Science, Federal University of Para, Belem, PA, Brazil. vallinoto@ufpa.br
authors.forename: Antonio Carlos Rosário
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Vallinoto
authors.forename: Felipe Bonfim
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Guirelli
authors.forename: Luiz Fernando Almeida
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: Vânia Nakauth
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.forename: Izaura
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cayres-Vallinoto
authors.forename: Marluísa Oliveira Guimarães
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Ishak
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ishak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin