Assessment of genetic polymorphisms on progression to AIDS in patients mono-infected and co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV)

Abstract

The human vulnerability to HIV infection is not uniform, virological and host factors are determinants on the risk of transmission and natural progression of the infection.Polymorphisms of KIR genes combined with HLA class I alleles of the patient, are being associated with progression of HIV infection. Several studies have been performed in mono-infected with HIV-1, but little is known about the relationship of these polymorphisms in coinfection HIV/HCV. The purpose of this study is to assess infection the progression by HIV in patients coinfected HIV/HCV, based on clinical parameters and laboratory, correlating with a genetic polymorphisms the host (KIR combined HLA class I), which may be useful for elucidating the natural history of the disease.300 samples will be used to form 3 groups (Group 1: 100 HIV mono-infected (subtype B);Group 2: 100 mono-infected HCV (genotype 1);Group 3: 100 Co-Infected HIV-1 (subtype B)/HCV). Determinations of subtypes (HIV) and genotypes (HCV) will be held from plasma, using RT-PCR and sequencing. The definitions of the KIR gene polymorphisms will be determined by PCR-SSP, and HLA will be accomplished out by sequencing. Clinical and laboratory data, regarding the evolution of HIV infection , will be analyzed from the medical records of patients. Statistical tests of association, parametric and nonparametric tests, Kaplan-Meier, log-rank test and logistic regression will be used for evaluation of the parameters involved in the study. (AU)