TY - JOUR
T1 - Genetic polymorphisms of Fas (CD95) and Fas ligand (CD178) influence the rise in CD4+ T cell count after antiretroviral therapy in drug-naïve HIV-positive patients
AU - Nasi, Milena
AU - Pinti, Marcello
AU - Bugarini, Roberto
AU - Troiano, Leonarda
AU - Lugli, Enrico
AU - Bellodi, Cristian
AU - Mussini, Cristina
AU - Borghi, Vanni
AU - Trenti, Tommaso
AU - Balli, Fiorella
AU - Esposito, Roberto
AU - Cossarizza, Andrea
PY - 2005/10
Y1 - 2005/10
N2 - Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) are the main genes that control cell death in the immune system. Indeed, they are crucial for the regulation of T lymphocyte homeostasis because they can influence cell proliferation. A strong debate exists on the importance of Fas/FasL system during HIV infection, which is characterized by the loss of CD4+ T cells directly, or indirectly, caused by the virus. To investigate whether the genetic background of the host plays a role in the immunoreconstitution, we studied the influence of different Fas and FasL polymorphisms on CD4+ T lymphocyte count and plasma viral load following initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in drug-naïve HIV+ patients. We studied 131 individuals, who were compared to 136 healthy donors. Statistical analysis was performed by using X 2 test, Fischer's Exact Test, and analysis for repeated measurements. The group of HIV+ patients had an unexpected lower frequency of FasLnt169 polymorphism (delT allele) than healthy controls (p=0.039). We then observed no significant differences in the immune reconstitution, in terms of CD4+ T cell increase, when the influence of single alleles of the gene Fas or FasL was considered. However, the combination of some polymorphisms of Fas or FasL significantly influenced CD4+ T cell production and viral load decrease, showing that these genes can play a role in the immunoreconstitution triggered by antiretroviral therapy.
AB - Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) are the main genes that control cell death in the immune system. Indeed, they are crucial for the regulation of T lymphocyte homeostasis because they can influence cell proliferation. A strong debate exists on the importance of Fas/FasL system during HIV infection, which is characterized by the loss of CD4+ T cells directly, or indirectly, caused by the virus. To investigate whether the genetic background of the host plays a role in the immunoreconstitution, we studied the influence of different Fas and FasL polymorphisms on CD4+ T lymphocyte count and plasma viral load following initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in drug-naïve HIV+ patients. We studied 131 individuals, who were compared to 136 healthy donors. Statistical analysis was performed by using X 2 test, Fischer's Exact Test, and analysis for repeated measurements. The group of HIV+ patients had an unexpected lower frequency of FasLnt169 polymorphism (delT allele) than healthy controls (p=0.039). We then observed no significant differences in the immune reconstitution, in terms of CD4+ T cell increase, when the influence of single alleles of the gene Fas or FasL was considered. However, the combination of some polymorphisms of Fas or FasL significantly influenced CD4+ T cell production and viral load decrease, showing that these genes can play a role in the immunoreconstitution triggered by antiretroviral therapy.
KW - AIDS
KW - Apoptosis
KW - CD178/CD95L/FasL gene polymorphism
KW - CD95/Apo-1/Fas gene polymorphism
KW - HAART
KW - HIV
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U2 - 10.1007/s00251-005-0031-z
DO - 10.1007/s00251-005-0031-z
M3 - Article
C2 - 16158329
AN - SCOPUS:26844526004
VL - 57
SP - 628
EP - 635
JO - Immunogenetics
JF - Immunogenetics
SN - 0093-7711
IS - 9
ER -