Previously, we have shown that CD4 levels in African Americans infected with human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) were lower than those in Caucasians. To determine whether or not HLA type is associated with susceptibility to HIV-1 infection, we demonstrated serologically that HLA-DQ6(1) and HLA-DQ7(3) were associated with HIV-1 infection in both African Americans and Caucasians. The present investigation was designed to demonstrate whether or not HLA-DQB1 alleles were associated with HIV-1 infection or protection from infection within these two ethnic groups. Oligonucleotide typing was employed and results were analyzed by χ² with Fisher’s exact test to compare HLA-DQ marker frequencies in the regional control population (98 African Americans, 143 Caucasians) to the disease population (n = 52; 30 African Americans and 22 Caucasians). We found a statistically significant increased risk of HIV infection associated with HLA-DQB 1*0605 in African Americans, and with HLA-DQB 1*0602 in Caucasians. By contrast, HLA-DQB 1*0603 was associated with protection in Caucasians.

In our previous work with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) association in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, African Americans (Afr Ams) and Caucasians (Caucs) exhibited HLA markers that were associated with protection or disease. The present study was designed to establish if HLAs were associated with the severity of HIV infection and progression to AIDS in Afr Am and Cauc adults. The frequency of serologically determined antigens (Ags) in the regional control population was compared to the HIV-infected population and the HIV-infected slow progressors were compared to rapid progressors by race, χ² analysis with Bonferroni adjustment, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, linear logistic regression, Cox model of proportional hazards and standardized deltas were applied as applicable. Immune parameters were monitored over a mean follow-up period of 23 ± 2 months for Afr Ams (n = 35) and 25 ± 5 months for Caucs (n = 24). A better prognosis in the HIV+ Afr Am group was associated with HLA-DQ 1 with a risk ratio of 0.295. In the HIV+ Cauc group, a preferable prognosis was associated with HLA-DQ 3 with a risk ratio of 0.11, and a poor prognosis was associated with HLA-DQ2 with a risk ratio of 7. Afr Am haplotypes that appeared to have the greatest association with rapid progression of HIV infection were A69(28)-B40 and related haplotypes as well as B12-DR14(6). Cauc haplotypes with the strongest association with rapid and slow progression of HIV infection were A28-B17-DR9 and A30(19)-B67, respectively. The DR Ags of at least one haplotype that led to rapid progression in both races were associated with DQ9(3). An ‘immune response’ gene (DQ region) may control the progression of HIV infection in adults. The rapidly progressive DQ-associated peptide might block the progression of HIV if given as a novel vaccine.

In a previous investigation, we demonstrated that certain human leukocyte antigens (HLA) may be associated with human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) infection or protection from infection among regional African Americans and Caucasians. We demonstrated that HLA-DQB 1*0605 was associated with a possible increased risk of susceptibility to infection in African Americans and that DQB 1*0602 was associated with a possible increased risk of infection in Caucasians. The present study was designed to demonstrate possible HLA associations with HIV-1 disease progression and AIDS in regional African American and Caucasian populations. To differentiate rapid from slow progressors, immune parameters of the HIV-1-positive patient population were monitored over a mean follow-up period of 23 ± 2 months for African Americans (n = 30) and 25 ± 5 months for Caucasians (n = 22). To determine significance, HLA allele frequencies among rapid progressors were compared to those of slow progressors, separated by race. Results were analyzed by χ² analysis, with Fisher’s exact test where applicable, linear logistic regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. In the HIV-1-positive African American group, a better prognosis was associated with HLA-DQB 1*0602. In the HIV-1-positive Caucasian group, HLA-DQB 1*0302 was associated with rapid HIV disease progression, but no marker was associated with a more favorable prognosis.