Targeted next-generation sequencing approach for CCR5, CXCR4 and IFNAR1
genes in HIV+ participants: Association of single nucleotide
polymorphisms with CD4+ T cell count and HIV replication in patients
receiving antiretroviral therapy
Abstract
HIV, which causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome, invades the host
cell via the CD4 receptor and CCR5 or CXCR4 co-receptors. Interferons
induced early in HIV infection induce an antiviral defense mechanism
through IFNAR signaling. Our study aimed to examine the relationship
between CCR5, CXCR4, and IFNAR1 gene variations as
a risk factor in HIV (+) patients and their response to their clinical
parameters. Targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) was used to
perform molecular genotyping analysis of the CCR5, CXCR4
and IFNAR1 genes in genomic DNA from 22 HIV+ patients and 25
healthy individuals as controls. We detected a total of 13 rare
mutations in the study, including 3 missense, 1 synonumous, 2 5′UTR, 4
3′UTR, 1 frameshift variations. We also detected 6 common variants in
the IFNAR1 and CXCR4 genes. HIV+ patients carrying the
wild type TT genotype of IFNAR1 gene rs2856973 T>A
variant had higher CD4+ T cell count compared with patients carrying the
TA+AA genotypes of rs2856973 variant in naive and 1st month of ART
period (p=0.0011 and p=0.0019, respectively). Similarly, participants
receiving ART with TT genotype of rs2856973 showed a significantly
higher CD4+ T cell count in the third month (p=0.0008). Patients
carrying the homozygous wild type genotype of CXCR4 gene
rs2680880 A>T SNP had lower CD4+ T cell count compared with
subjects carrying the AT+TT mutant genotypes of rs2680880 in naive and
first month period (p=0.0152 and P=0.0256, respectively). Our results
demonstrate that variations in the IFNAR1 and CXCR4 genes
can contribute to modifications in HIV progression.