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Abstract:
Background
The role of copy number variation of the CCL3L1 gene, encoding MIP1α, in contributing to
the host variation in susceptibility and response to HIV infection is controversial. Here we
analyse a sub-Saharan African cohort from Tanzania and Ethiopia, two countries with a high
prevalence of HIV-1 and a high co-morbidity of HIV with tuberculosis.
Methods
We use a form of quantitative PCR called the paralogue ratio test to determine CCL3L1 gene
copy number in 1134 individuals and validate our copy number typing using array
comparative genomic hybridisation and fiber-FISH.
Results
We find no significant association of CCL3L1 gene copy number with HIV load in
antiretroviral-naïve patients prior to initiation of combination highly active anti-retroviral
therapy. However, we find a significant association of low CCL3L1 gene copy number with
improved immune reconstitution following initiation of highly active anti-retroviral therapy
(p = 0.012), replicating a previous study.
Conclusions
Our work supports a role for CCL3L1 copy number in immune constitution following
antiretroviral therapy in HIV, and suggests that the MIP1α -CCR5 axis might be targeted to
aid immune reconstitution.
