Analysis of a 32-base-pair deletion in the CCR5 chemokine receptor gene inHIV-1-infected individuals from Moscow

Chemokine receptors have recently been shown to mediate HIV-1 entry into ce lls. The chemokine receptor CCR5 plays a key role in this process. A 32-bp deletion within the coding region of the CCR5 gene generates a truncated no nfunctional receptor. In HIV-1-infected individuals homozygous for this mut ation, disease progression is inhibited. We analyzed the frequencies of the deletion in HIV-1-infected seropositive individuals. No significant differ ences in allelic frequencies of the CCR5 gene between the control and gener al HIV-1-infected cohorts and within the latter group between the infected individuals and patients with AIDS symptoms were revealed.