TLR9 2848 G/A Gene Polymorphism in HCV+, HIV+, and HCV+/HIV+ Individuals.
Bruna Kulmann-LealJoel Henrique EllwangerJacqueline María Valverde-VillegasDaniel SimonCamila Guerra MarangonVanessa Suñé MatteviRosmeri Kuhmmer LazzarettiRegina KuhmmerEduardo SprinzJosé Artur Bogo ChiesPublished in: Genetic testing and molecular biomarkers (2022)
Background: Host genetic factors play a major role with respect to susceptibility to infections. Many polymorphisms of the Toll-like receptors (TLRs), members of the innate immune response, are directly associated with the clinical outcomes following infection. The 2848 G/A variant (rs352140) of the TLR9 gene is associated with increased TLR9 expression. However, the impact of the genotypes of this SNP on HIV+, HCV+, and HCV+/HIV+ individuals is still debated. Materials and Methods: This study investigated the 2848 G/A polymorphism in HCV infection, HIV infection, and HCV/HIV co-infection in a large sample of Brazilians ( n = 1,182). Groups were initially compared without considering stratification by ethnicity and subsequently stratifying individuals between whites and non-whites. Results: Considering non-white individuals, a significant difference between the HIV+/HCV+ group and controls was observed with the GG genotype serving as a protective factor ( p = 0.023). Additionally, significant allelic differences were observed between the HCV+ group and controls ( p = 0.042); between the HIV+/HCV+ group and controls ( p = 0.011); and between the HIV+/HCV+ group and HIV+ individuals ( p = 0.047). However, all significant results were lost following adjustment for multiple comparisons ( p > 0.05). Conclusion: Although our initial results indicated a potential influence of the rs352140 genotype on host altered susceptibility to viral infections, following correction for multiple comparisions the standard ( p < 0.05) for statistical association was lost. This may be due to insufficient sample size as we were examining many different associations. Thus, a larger study is warranted to further pursue this topic.
Keyphrases
- hepatitis c virus
- human immunodeficiency virus
- antiretroviral therapy
- hiv positive
- hiv infected
- hiv testing
- immune response
- hiv aids
- men who have sex with men
- inflammatory response
- south africa
- poor prognosis
- gene expression
- genome wide
- climate change
- risk assessment
- transcription factor
- high resolution
- atomic force microscopy
- nuclear factor