Haptoglobin polymorphism in human immunodeficiency virus infection: Hp0 phenotype limits depletion of CD4 cell counts in HIV-1-seropositive individuals
Ike. Quaye et al., Haptoglobin polymorphism in human immunodeficiency virus infection: Hp0 phenotype limits depletion of CD4 cell counts in HIV-1-seropositive individuals, J INFEC DIS, 181(4), 2000, pp. 1483-1485
Patients seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 and ser
onegative control subjects were categorized by their haptoglobin phenotypes
, which were determined by electrophoresis of hemoglobin-supplemented plasm
a samples followed by benzidine staining. The CD4 cell counts, determined b
y flow cytometry from peripheral blood mononuclear cells according to subje
ct categories, were severely diminished in seropositive patients with the H
p2-2 phenotype (P < .025). In contrast, the CD4 cell counts for patients wi
th the Hp0 phenotype remained relatively high (P < .025), compared with tho
se of the controls. In seronegative patients, CD4 cell counts were generall
y high (P < .005), but they were more elevated in subjects with Hp2-2 and H
p1-1, although the differences were not significant. Thus, the Hp2-2 phenot
ype is associated with poor outcome in HIV-1 infection, whereas the Hp0 phe
notype is associated with a better prognosis once the patient is infected w
ith HIV-1. Haptoglobin polymorphism plays a significant role in HIV-1 infec
tion and transmission.