title: Polymorphisms in the interleukin-7 receptor α gene and mortality in untreated HIV-infected individuals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recently, polymorphisms in the gene encoding the interleukin-7 receptor α (IL7Rα) have been shown to influence the CD4 cell count in HIV-infected individuals. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in or in close proximity to the IL7Rα on mortality among 152 untreated HIV infected in a Zimbabwean cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were followed prospectively, median time of follow-up 3.9 year. SNPs were genotyped using competitive allele-specific PCR. Cox regression was used for survival analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found an increased mortality among carriers of the IL7Rα, rs6897932, T-allele (hazard ratio: 2.56 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.22-5.35], P=0.013). This association remained significant after adjusting for age, sex, baseline HIV-RNA and baseline CD4 cell count (hazard ratio=2.36 (95% CI 1.06-2.58), P=0.036).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest an association between the IL7Rα, rs6897932, T-allele and increased mortality among untreated HIV-infected, Zimbabwean individuals.
authors: Viroimmunology Research Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. hj@hartling.dk
authors: Hans J
authors: HJ
authors: Hartling
authors: Lise W
authors: LW
authors: Thørner
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Erikstrup
authors: Rutendo
authors: R
authors: Zinyama
authors: Per
authors: P
authors: Kallestrup
authors: Exnevia
authors: E
authors: Gomo
authors: Susanne D
authors: SD
authors: Nielsen
authors: Henrik
authors: H
authors: Ullum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D053699:Interleukin-7 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D055815:Young Adult; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D053699:Interleukin-7 Receptor alpha Subunit