HLA antigens associated with susceptibility/resistance to HIV-1 infection

We studied the distribution of HLA-A, B, C, DR and DQ antigens in a cohort of HIV-1⁺ individuals and their heterosexual HIV seropositive (concordant) or seronegative (discordant) partners of Black non-Hispanic, Hispanic or Caucasian non-Hispanic ethnicity. The prevalence of DQ7 and Cw7 was significantly higher in the HIV-1⁺ compared to seronegative Black and Hispanic individuals, respectively. The frequency of DQ4 was significantly elevated in the Black seronegatives, whereas B53 was increased in the Hispanic seronegatives in comparison to the seropositives. No significant differences were observed between the Caucasian HIV infected and non-infected individuals. Analysis of the primary concordant HIV⁺ and discordant HIV⁺ individuals showed a marked increase in the prevalence of B44 in the Hispanic discordant seropositives, whereas the Caucasian primary concordants had a marked increase in the prevalence of A26. The prevalence of DQ7 and Cw7 was significantly increased in the Black and Hispanic secondary concordant seropositives, respectively in comparison to the seronegatives. The proportion of couples with matching HLA antigens was similar among the HIV-1⁺ concordant and discordant groups. These results provide additional evidence that HLA polymorphism may confer a genetic risk or protection for HIV-1 infection in individuals of various ethnic backgrounds.