Genetic Associations with Weight Gain among South Africans who Initiated Dolutegravir-Containing and Tenofovir-Containing Regimens

BACKGROUND: Excessive weight gain affects some HIV-positive individuals prescribed dolutegravir- containing regimens. Mechanisms underlying such weight gain are unknown. SETTING: Data and DNA from antiretroviral therapy-naïve participants who were randomized to initiate dolutegravir with emtricitabine plus either tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) in the ADVANCE study (NCT03122262) were used to characterize associations between human genetic polymorphisms and magnitude of weight gain. METHODS: Associations with percent weight gain from baseline to week 48 were assessed using multivariable linear regression models. Primary analyses a priori considered 59 polymorphisms and 10 genes of potential relevance to dolutegravir, TAF or TDF pharmacokinetics. We also explored genome-wide associations. RESULTS: Among the 314 (92%) of 340 dolutegravir recipients who were successfully genotyped, 160 (47%) and 154 (45%) were randomized to TAF/emtricitabine and TDF/emtricitabine, respectively. In target gene analyses, the lowest P-values for the dolutegravir and tenofovir groups were ABCG2 rs4148149 (P = 7.0×10(−4)) and ABCC10 rs67861980 (P = 1.0×10(−2)), respectively, which were not significant after correction for multiple testing. In genome-wide analyses the lowest P-values for dolutegravir, was rs7590091 in TMEM163 (P = 3.7×10(−8)), rs17137701 in LOC105379130 (P = 6.4×10(− 8)) for TAF, and rs76771105 in LOC105371716 (P = 9.7×10(−8)) for TDF. CONCLUSION: Among South African participants in a randomized clinical trial of dolutegravir plus either TAF/emtricitabine or TDF/emtricitabine, we identified several potential genetic associations with weight gain. Only TMEM163 rs7590091 withstood correction for multiple testing. These associations warrant replication in other cohorts.