Objective: To study the correlations of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) gene promoter polymorphisms and plasma MBL concentrations to the susceptibility to HIV infection in northern Chinese Han population.
Methods: This case-control study included 115 HIV-infected patients and 115 non-infected healthy individuals, in whom the MBL gene promoter polymorphisms were detected using pyrosequencing technique and plasma MBL concentrations measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results: The MBL promoter genotypes of LY/LY, LY/LX, HY/LY, HY/HY and LX/LX were detected in 66 (57.40%), 25 (21.70%), 17 (14.80%), 5 (4.30%) and 2 (1.70%) among the HIV-infected patients, and in 77 (67.00%), 23(20.00%), 12 (10.40%), 0 (0.00%), and 3 (2.60%) among the healthy individuals, respectively. The frequencies of haplotypes LY, HY and LX were 75.70%, 11.70% and 12.60% among the patients, and 82.20%, 5.20% and 12.60% among the healthy individuals, respectively, showing significant difference in the halpotype between the two groups (P=0.041). The average plasma MBL concentration was significantly lower in HIV-infected group than in the healthy individuals (1775.14-/+786.31 vs 3672.21-/+597.13 microg/L, P=0.001).
Conclusion: The genotypes of LY/LY and LY/LX and the haplotypes of LY and HY are predominant in northern Chinese Han population, and the plasma MBL concentration in HIV infected patients is generally only 50% of that in healthy individuals. We therefore presume that MBL promoter polymorphisms and plasma MBL concentration can be associated with the susceptibility to HIV infection in this population, and individuals with low plasma MBL concentration are more susceptible to HIV infection.