A polymorphism in the leptin gene promoter is associated with anemia in patients with HIV disease

Blood. 2011 Nov 17;118(20):5401-8. doi: 10.1182/blood-2011-06-362194. Epub 2011 Sep 16.

Abstract

To study factors associated with anemia and its effect on survival in HIV-infected persons treated with modern combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), we characterized the prevalence of anemia in the Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) and used a candidate gene approach to identify proinflammatory gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with anemia in HIV disease. The study comprised 1597 HIV(+) and 865 HIV(-) VACS subjects with DNA, blood, and annotated clinical data available for analysis. Anemia was defined according to World Health Organization criteria (hemoglobin < 13 g/dL and < 12 g/dL in men and women, respectively). The prevalence of anemia in HIV(+) and HIV(-) subjects was 23.1% and 12.9%, respectively. Independent of HIV status, anemia was present in 23.4% and 8% in blacks and whites, respectively. Analysis of our candidate genes revealed that the leptin -2548 G/A SNP was associated with anemia in HIV(+), but not HIV(-), patients, with the AA and AG genotypes significantly predicting anemia (P < .003 and P < .039, respectively, logistic regression). This association was replicated in an independent cohort of HIV(+) women. Our study provides novel insight into the association between genetic variability in the leptin gene and anemia in HIV(+) individuals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anemia / genetics*
  • Anemia / mortality
  • Anemia / virology*
  • Anti-Retroviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / epidemiology
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics
  • Genetic Variation
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy
  • HIV Infections / genetics*
  • HIV Infections / mortality*
  • Hemoglobins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Leptin / genetics*
  • Linkage Disequilibrium
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / genetics
  • Prevalence
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Veterans / statistics & numerical data

Substances

  • Anti-Retroviral Agents
  • Hemoglobins
  • Leptin