FcγRIIa genotype predicts progression of HIV infection

DN Forthal, G Landucci, J Bream… - The Journal of …, 2007 - journals.aai.org
DN Forthal, G Landucci, J Bream, LP Jacobson, TB Phan, B Montoya
The Journal of Immunology, 2007journals.aai.org
Polymorphisms in FcγR genes are associated with susceptibility to or severity of a number of
autoimmune and infectious diseases. We found that HIV-infected men in the Multicenter
AIDS Cohort Study with the FcγRIIa RR genotype progressed to a CD4+ cell count of<
200/mm 3 at a faster rate than individuals with the RH or HH genotypes (relative hazard=
1.6; p= 0.0001). However, progression to AIDS (using the broad definition of either a CD4+
cell count< 200/mm 3 or development of an AIDS-defining illness) was less impacted by …
Abstract
Polymorphisms in FcγR genes are associated with susceptibility to or severity of a number of autoimmune and infectious diseases. We found that HIV-infected men in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study with the FcγRIIa RR genotype progressed to a CD4+ cell count of< 200/mm 3 at a faster rate than individuals with the RH or HH genotypes (relative hazard= 1.6; p= 0.0001). However, progression to AIDS (using the broad definition of either a CD4+ cell count< 200/mm 3 or development of an AIDS-defining illness) was less impacted by FcγRIIa genotype, largely because HH homozygotes had an increased risk of Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia as an AIDS-defining illness. We also showed that chronically infected subjects develop a substantial anti-gp120-specific IgG2 response. Moreover, HIV-1 immune complexes are more efficiently internalized by monocytes from HH subjects compared with RR subjects, likely because of the presence of IgG2 in the complexes. Finally, the FcγRIIIa F/V gene polymorphism was not associated with progression of HIV infection, but, as demonstrated previously, did predict the risk of Kaposi’s sarcoma. These results demonstrate the importance of FcγRs in AIDS pathogenesis and point toward a critical role for interactions between FcγRs and immune complexes in disease progression.
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