Title

The Effect of RANTES Chemokine Genetic Variants on Early HIV-1 Plasma RNA Among African American Injection Drug Users

Authors

Priya Duggal, Johns Hopkins University
Cheryl Winkler, National Cancer Institute at Frederick
Ping An, National Cancer Institute at Frederick
Xiao-Fang Yu, Johns Hopkins University
Homayoon Farzadegan, Johns Hopkins University
Stephen J. O'Brien, National Cancer Institute at FrederickFollow
T. H. Beaty, Johns Hopkins University
David Vlahov, Johns Hopkins University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-15-2005

Publication Title

Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes

Keywords

Chemokines, RANTES, HIV-1 plasma RNA, HIV

ISSN

1525-4135

Volume

38

Issue/No.

5

First Page

584

Last Page

589

Abstract

HIV-1 plasma RNA is a prognostic indicator of HIV-1, and increased levels of HIV-1 plasma RNA are associated with rapid progression to AIDS. Because chemokines and chemokine receptors are involved in the binding and entry of HIV-1, possible effects of host genetics on viral RNA levels should be visible in early infection. HIV-1 plasma RNA was measured within 2 years of seroconversion in 198 seroincident injection drug users followed in the AIDS Link to Intravenous Experience cohort. Genetic variants were identified in the chemokine receptors (CCR2, CCR5, and CCR5 promoter) and the chemokine RANTES using TaqMan and restriction fragment length polymorphism assays. Linear regression of RANTES haplotypes on early HIV-1 plasma RNA identified individuals homozygous for the RANTES R1 haplotype as having a lower viral load by almost one-half log₁₀ unit compared with those bearing non-RANTES R1 haplotypes (−0.43, 95% confidence interval: −0.74, −0.12). Genetic variants in RANTES may downregulate RANTES gene expression and increase early HIV-1 plasma RNA. Because RANTES is a critical chemokine and competitively inhibits HIV-1 by binding to its receptor CCR5, treatment to enhance RANTES expression may assist in delaying the progression of AIDS by decreasing the initial viral load.

Comments

©2005 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Additional Comments

National Cancer Institute contract #: N01-CO-12400; National Institute of Drug Abuse grant #: DA 04334

NSUWorks Citation

Duggal, Priya; Cheryl Winkler; Ping An; Xiao-Fang Yu; Homayoon Farzadegan; Stephen J. O'Brien; T. H. Beaty; and David Vlahov. 2005. "The Effect of RANTES Chemokine Genetic Variants on Early HIV-1 Plasma RNA Among African American Injection Drug Users." Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 38, (5): 584-589. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cnso_bio_facarticles/567

ORCID ID

0000-0001-7353-8301

ResearcherID

N-1726-2015