DC‐SIGN and DC‐SIGNR polymorphic variants in Northern Asian Indians

Dendritic cell‐specific intercellular adhesion molecule‐grabbing nonintegrin‐related protein (DC‐SIGNR), along with DC‐SIGN, is suggested to facilitate HIV infection of T cells in trans through binding with HIV gp120. We studied the repeat region polymorphisms in DC‐SIGN and DC‐SIGNR in 100 healthy HIV‐1 seronegative individuals among Northern Asian Indians. Each variant polymorphism obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was confirmed by cloning and sequencing. Fifty‐four per cent of the healthy seronegative individuals were homozygous for the DC‐SIGNR 7/7 repeat. The heterozygous 7/5 variant was found in 25%, while the 5/5 homozygous genotype was found in 17% of the subjects. Allele 8 was rare and accounted for 4% of the heterozygous genotype (8/7) in the sample population. DC‐SIGN polymorphism was rare, and the genotype 7/7 was most frequent in this study population. Further studies are warranted in a large sample size including high‐risk and seropositive HIV patients to confirm the association of DC‐SIGNR polymorphisms with HIV‐1 susceptibility.