Effect of chemokine receptor gene polymorphisms on the response to potent antiretroviral therapy

BackgroundBoth the natural history of HIV infection and the response to antiretroviral therapy are heterogeneous. Polymorphisms in chemokine receptor genes modulate the natural history of HIV-1 infection. In comparison with subjects with other genotypes, the prognosis for HIV-1-infected CCR5-delta32 heterozygotes is more favorable and that for CCR5 promoter allele 59029A homozygotes is less favorable.MethodsHIV-1-infected adults with a CD4+ lymphocyte count > or = 200 cells x 10(6)/l and a plasma HIV RNA level > or = 1000 copies/ml were treated with indinavir, zidovudine and lamivudine for 6 months. HIV RNA levels were measured at 4-week intervals. Genotyping for chemokine receptor gene polymorphisms (CCR5-delta32, CCR5 59029A/G, CCR2-641) was performed. We examined whether the time to first HIV RNA or = 200 copies/ml between weeks 16 and 28 of therapy), or reduction from the pre-treatment HIV RNA level differed by genotype.ResultsTime to first HIV RNA ConclusionPolymorphisms in chemokine receptor genes may explain some of the heterogeneity in sustaining viral suppression observed among patients receiving potent antiretroviral therapy.