The HLA A2/6802 supertype is associated with reduced risk of perinatal human immunodeficiency virus type 1 transmission

J Infect Dis. 2001 Feb 1;183(3):503-6. doi: 10.1086/318092. Epub 2000 Dec 11.

Abstract

Certain HLAs may, in part, account for differences in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) susceptibility by presenting conserved immunogenic epitopes for T cell recognition. The HLA supertype A2/6802 is associated with decreased susceptibility to HIV-1 among sex workers. The alleles in this supertype present the same HIV-1 peptide epitopes for T cell recognition in some cases. This study sought to determine whether the HLA A2/6802 supertype influenced HIV-1 transmission in a prospective cohort of HIV-1-infected mothers and children in Kenya. Decreased perinatal HIV-1 infection risk was strongly associated with possession of a functional cluster of related HLA alleles, called the A2/6802 supertype (odds ratio, 0.12; 95% confidence interval, 0.03-0.54; P=.006). This effect was independent of the protective effect of maternal-child HLA discordance. These data provide further evidence that HLA supertypes are associated with differential susceptibility to HIV-1 transmission.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alleles
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Genes, MHC Class I*
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • HIV Infections / transmission*
  • HIV-1*
  • HLA-A2 Antigen / genetics*
  • Histocompatibility Testing
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical*
  • Male
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / virology
  • Prospective Studies

Substances

  • HLA-A2 Antigen