HLA ANTIGENS ARE RISK-FACTORS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF AIDS

  • 1 January 1989
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 2  (1) , 28-32
Abstract
HLA-A, -B, -C, -DR, and -DQ antigens were determined by serology and in cases of severe lymphopenia by RFLP-DNA typing in 51 Caucasians with a diagnosis of AIDS (32 with opportunistic infections and 19 with secondary cancers). In addition, 86 HIV-1 seropositive and 39 HIV-1 seronegative drug abusers and 148 healthy controls were also studied. No significant differences in HLA antigen frequencies were found in comparison of HIV-1 seropositive and HIV-1 seronegative drug abusers with controls, suggesting that HLA polymorphism does not represent a genetic risk for infection with HIV-1. In contrast, a significant increased frequency of B35 (p<0.01) and CW4 (p<0.01) was observed in both groups of AIDS patients as compared to controls. Moreover, DR2 was increased in frequency in patients with opportunistic infections (p<0.01) and DR3 was completely absent in patients with secondary cancers (p<0.05). In the latter group, the DR5 frequency was increased, although nonsignificantly. These findings provide strong evidence for the existence of HLA-linked factors of susceptibility and host resistance to AIDS.

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