title: Role of SEP15 Gene Polymorphisms in the Time of Progression to AIDS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  HIV infection is a chronic disease that requires intensive treatment in its later phases, including dietary supplementation. Several studies have suggested clinical improvements in patients with high levels of selenium, linking these levels with a longer progression to AIDS. The objective of this study was to verify the association of two polymorphisms in the SEP15 gene, which encodes a selenoprotein that is responsible for the transport of selenium in cells, with the time of progression to AIDS in HIV-1-infected patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were obtained from 139 HIV-1-positive individuals after they provided informed consent. DNA was isolated and genotyped using real-time polymerase chain reaction for the presence of SEP15 single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs5859 and rs561104). Questionnaires on sociodemographic features and behavior were answered, and the time of progression to AIDS was estimated based on a medical chart analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The allelic and genotypic frequencies did not differ between rapid and nonrapid progressors; however, the presence of the AA genotype of the rs5859 polymorphism was associated with a shorter time of progression to AIDS compared with GG homozygotes (hazard ratio = 3.62, 95% CI = 1.55-8.43, p = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings show the importance of genetic analysis of the SEP15 gene in individual patients with regard to predicting time of progression to AIDS.
authors.affiliation: 1 Graduate Program in Pathology, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre , Porto Alegre, Brazil .
authors.forename: Jéssica Louise
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Benelli
authors.affiliation: 2 Technological and Scientific Development Center-CDCT, State Foundation in Production and Health Research-FEPPS , Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil .|3 Post Graduation Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology Department, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul State , Porto Alegre, Brazil .
authors.forename: Rúbia Marília
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: de Medeiros
authors.affiliation: 2 Technological and Scientific Development Center-CDCT, State Foundation in Production and Health Research-FEPPS , Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil .|3 Post Graduation Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology Department, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul State , Porto Alegre, Brazil .
authors.forename: Maria Cristina Cotta
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Matte
authors.affiliation: 4 Infectious Disease Service, Nossa Senhora da Conceição Hospital , Porto Alegre, Brazil .
authors.forename: Marineide Gonçalves
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: de Melo
authors.affiliation: 2 Technological and Scientific Development Center-CDCT, State Foundation in Production and Health Research-FEPPS , Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil .
authors.forename: Sabrina Esteves
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: de Matos Almeida
authors.affiliation: 5 Department of Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre , Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil .
authors.forename: Marilu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiegenbaum
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D051140:Selenoproteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C495238:SELENOF protein, human; D051140:Selenoproteins; D004247:DNA