Heterozygosity for a defective gene for CC chemokine receptor 5 is not the sole determinant for the immunologic and virologic phenotype of HIV-infected long-term nonprogressors

J Clin Invest. 1997 Sep 15;100(6):1581-9. doi: 10.1172/JCI119682.

Abstract

HIV-1-infected long-term nonprogressors are a heterogeneous group of individuals with regard to immunologic and virologic markers of HIV-1 disease. CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) has recently been identified as an important coreceptor for HIV-1 entry into CD4+ T cells. A mutant allele of CCR5 confers a high degree of resistance to HIV-1 infection in homozygous individuals and partial protection against HIV disease progression in heterozygotes. The frequency of CCR5 heterozygotes is increased among HIV-1- infected long-term nonprogressors compared with progressors; however, the host defense mechanisms responsible for nonprogression in CCR5 heterozygotes are unknown. We hypothesized that nonprogressors who were heterozygous for the mutant CCR5 gene might define a subgroup of nonprogressors with higher CD4+ T cell counts and lower viral load compared with CCR5 wild-type nonprogressors. However, in a cohort of 33 HIV-1-infected long-term nonprogressors, those who were heterozygous for the mutant CCR5 gene were indistinguishable from CCR5 wild-type nonprogressors with regard to all measured immunologic and virologic parameters. Although epidemiologic data support a role for the mutant CCR5 allele in the determination of the state of long-term nonprogression in some HIV-1- infected individuals, it is not the only determinant. Furthermore, long-term nonprogressors with the wild-type CCR5 genotype are indistinguishable from heterozygotes from an immunologic and virologic standpoint.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Chemokine CCL4
  • Chemokine CCL5 / blood
  • Disease Progression
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / genetics*
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV-1 / isolation & purification
  • HIV-1 / pathogenicity*
  • Heterozygote
  • Homozygote
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Lymph Nodes / chemistry
  • Lymph Nodes / virology
  • Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins / blood
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Monocytes / immunology
  • Mutation*
  • Receptors, CCR5 / genetics*
  • Receptors, CCR5 / metabolism
  • Receptors, Complement 3d / analysis
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • Chemokine CCL4
  • Chemokine CCL5
  • Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins
  • Receptors, CCR5
  • Receptors, Complement 3d