title: The VNTR polymorphism of the DC-SIGNR gene and susceptibility to HIV-1 infection: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing nonintegrin related (DC-SIGNR) can bind to the human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) gp120 envelope glycoprotein and is thus important for the host-pathogen interaction in HIV-1 infection. Studies of the association between the variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism of the DC-SIGNR gene and HIV-1 susceptibility have produced controversial results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We conducted a meta-analysis of the data contained in the literature to clarify these findings. In total, 10 studies consisting of 2683 HIV-1 patients and 3263 controls (2130 healthy controls and 1133 HIV-1 exposed but seronegative (HESN) controls) were included. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were assessed in the main analyses. Further stratified analyses by ethnicity and sample size were performed. By dividing the controls into two groups, healthy controls and HIV-1 exposed but seronegative (HESN) controls, we explored different genetic models to detect any association between the VNTR polymorphism and predisposition to HIV-1 infection. The results showed that the 5-repeat allele carriers (OR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.73-0.96) and the 5/5 homozygous (OR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.50-0.93) had significantly reduced risk when using the HIV-1 exposed but seronegative (HESN) as controls. The stratified analyses by ethnicity and sample size confirmed these findings. However, a low to moderate degree of heterogeneity was also found across studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings demonstrate that the VNTR polymorphism of the DC-SIGNR gene is associated with a moderate effect on host susceptibility to HIV-1 infection. Similar to the 32-bp deletion in the chemokine receptor-5 gene (CCR5Δ32), the DC-SIGNR VNTR 5-repeat allele might have a role in resistance to HIV infection, particularly in Asian populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Southeast University School of Medicine, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiao-Min
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Jia-Xin
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ze-Hui
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Nelson Leung-Sang
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D000483:Alleles; D001208:Asia; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics*; D005060:Europe; D017353:Gene Deletion; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000235:genetics*; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D019713:Receptors, CCR5 / Q000235:genetics; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics*; D014481:United States; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C433029:CLEC4M protein, human; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D019713:Receptors, CCR5; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus