HIV-1 DISEASE ASSOCIATION WITH HLA-DQ ANTIGENS IN AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND CAUCASIANS

Previously, we have shown that CD4 levels in African Americans infecte d with human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) were lower than those in Caucasians. To determine whether or not HLA type is associated with s usceptibility to HIV-1 infection, we demonstrated serologically that H LA-DQ6(1) and HLA-DQ7(3) were associated with HIV-1 infection in both African Americans and Caucasians. The present investigation was design ed to demonstrate whether or not HLA-DQB1 alleles were associated with HIV-1 infection or protection from infection within these two ethnic groups. Oligonucleotide typing was employed and results were analyzed by chi(2) With Fisher's exact test to compare HLA-DQ marker frequencie s in the regional control population (98 African Americans, 143 Caucas ians) to the disease population (n = 52; 30 African Americans and 22 C aucasians). We found a statistically significant increased risk of HIV infection associated with HLA-DQB 10605 in African Americans, and wi th HLA-DQB10602 in Caucasians. By contrast, HLA-DQB1*0603 was associa ted with protection in Caucasians.