TRIM5α 136Q, CCR5 Promoter 59029G And CCR264I Alleles Impact The Progression Of HIV In Children And Adolescents

Béatrice Dambaya,1,2 Céline Nguefeu Nkenfou,1,3 Linda Mekue,1,4 Georges Této,1 Nicole Ngoufack,1,2 Georgia Ambada,1,2 Njiokou Flobert,1 Vittorio Colizzi,5 Ndjolo Alexis1,6 1Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CBIRC), Yaoundé, Cameroon; 2Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaoundé, Cameroon; 3Department of Biological Sciences, Higher Teachers’ Training College, University of Yaounde I, Yaoundé, Cameroon; 4Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon; 5Department of Immunology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; 6Department of Ear, Nose and Throat, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaoundé, CameroonCorrespondence: Céline Nguefeu NkenfouHigher Teacher Training College, University of Yaounde I, P.O. BOX 47, Yaounde, CameroonTel +675573519Email nkenfou@yahoo.comBackground: Children show various degrees of vulnerability regarding HIV infection and disease progression. This disparity presents challenges for the follow-up of infected children. Here we investigated reasons behind this variability focusing on some host-related HIV genes.Methods: We screened 570 Cameroonian children and adolescents, aged 1 to 19 years old. Among them, 137 were followed over 4 years, from 2010 to 2015. Upon signing a proxy consent, children and adolescents were classified according to their age, CD4 count, viral load and clinical symptoms as long-term non-progressors (LTNP), slow progressors (SP) and rapid progressors (RP). Their blood was collected every 6 months and used for biological and host genetic polymorphism analyses. Five genes were genotyped: Trim5α (R136Q), CCR5 promoter 59029G, CCR2-64I, SDF 3ʹA and CCR5-Δ32. Exposed non-infected (HEU) and unexposed HIV negative children (HNEU) were recruited as control groups.Results: Among the 5 genes studied, the protective allele of Trim5α (R136Q) was present in all LTNP and in 72.34% and 2.56% of SP and RP, respectively (p