Distribution of the mutated delta 32 allele of CCR5 co-receptor gene in Iranian population

The CCR5 is a chemokine receptor that serves as a co-receptor for HIV-1 attachment and entryto T lymphocytes. A 32bp deletion (Δ32) in this gene is believed to be associated with resistance to infection and delay disease progression. The aim of this study was to determine the Δ32 allele frequency in healthy ind ividuals and HIV-infected individuals with AIDS. In this experiment, 530 normal individuals from healthy Iranian population and 40 HIV-infected samples from Western Clinic of Tehran were examined for Δ32 in CCR5 gene using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques followed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Allele frequencies of the CCR5Δ32 in normal individuals were calculated to be 1.1% for heterozygous genotype and 0.19% for homozygous genotype. None of the co-receptor gene in HIV cases was found to be mutated in this study. Based on the findings of this study and the literature in Iran, we could conclude that Iranian people similar to neighbor countries such as Arabs are susceptible to HIV virus infection.