Secretor polymorphism and human immunodeficiency virus infection in Senegalese women

The FUT2 gene encodes the enzyme alpha (1,2) fucosyltransferase, which dete rmines expression of blood-group antigens on mucosal epithelial cell surfac es and in secretions. Homozygotes for a specific stop mutation in FUT2 (non secretors) cannot produce this enzyme and thus are unable to express blood group antigens, Nonsecretor status is associated with a decreased risk of s everal respiratory viral infections. By use of molecular genotyping, 2 popu lations of Senegalese women were examined for polymorphisms of the FUT2 gen e, Among Senegalese commercial sex workers, absence of FUT2 (nonsecretor ge notype) was associated with reduced risk of human immunodeficiency virus (H IV) type 1 infection (odds ratio [OR] adjusted for cervical and vaginal inf ection, 0.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.04-0.90) and HIV-2 infection (adjusted OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.13-1.39), although the latter was not statist ically significant. Modification of cell surface carbohydrates at mucosal s urfaces determined by the FUT2 gene may underlie the protective association against heterosexual HIV infection.