The evaluation of association between HLA and disease progression among HIV/ADIS patients referred to Imam Khomeyni Hospital

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and class II is believed to play a major role in the immune response to HIV, and are known to be associated with rates of progression to AIDS. This study measured the rates of variation within well-defined epitopes to determine associations with the HLA-linked exposure of disease progression. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between HLA and disease progression among Iranian HIV/AIDS patients in comparison with general population. In this case- control study, the role of HLA class I (A, B) and class II (DRB1, DQA1 and DQB1) alleles were investigated in 48 HIV infected Iranian patients compared with 100 healthy individuals. HLA typing was carried out by PCR amplification using sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP). The primer was supplied by the standard kit. The disease progression was determined based on changes in stage of disease. Among 48 HIV infected patients and the control group a>positive association was observed with HLA- DRB1* 0301 (1.32< OR< 7.09, P= 0.0037), HLA- DQA1 * 0501(1.01< OR< 4.97, P=0.03), HLA- DQB1 * 0201 (0.98< OR< 3.50 P= 0.04) as well as a negative association with HLA- DRB1 * 1301 (0.01< OR< 0.98, P= 0.022) in HIV progression. In this study, no significant association was found with the analyzed HLA-B*2701 and HLA-B* 5701 alleles in the case of HIV progression. In our study among HIV infected patients the HLA- DRB1 * 0301, HLA- DQA1 * 0501 and HLA- DQB1 * 0201 were the most important predictors for the HIV progression, whereas, HLA- DRB1 *1301 detected as strong protectors. As the results of the limitations in present study such as being small sample size, studies among a larger population would be necessary to in HIV infected patients with predisposing HLA alleles for early therapy.