CCR5 Haplotypes Influence HCV Serostatus in Caucasian Intravenous Drug Users
CCR5 Haplotypes Influence HCV Serostatus in Caucasian Intravenous Drug Users Kristi Huik1, Radko Avi1, Andrew Carrillo2,3, Nathan Harper2,3, Merit Pauskar1, Maarja Sadam1, To˜ nis Karki1,To˜ nu Krispin1, Ulvi-Kaire Kongo4, Tatiana Jermilova5, Kristi Ru¨ u¨ tel6, Ave Talu6, Katri Abel- Ollo6, Anneli Uusku¨ la7, Sunil K. Ahuja2,3, Weijing He2,3*, Irja Lutsar1* 1 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia, 2 Veterans Administration Research Center for AIDS and HIV-1 Infection, and Center for Personalized Medicine, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America, 3 Departments of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America, 4 Immunoheamatology Reference Laboratory, North Estonia Medical Centre Foundation, Tallinn, Estonia, 5 Blood Center of Kohtla-Ja¨rve, Kohtla-Ja¨rve, Estonia, 6 National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia, 7 Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia Abstract Background: Up to 90% HIV-1 positive intravenous drug users (IDUs) are co-infected with HCV. Although best recognized for its function as a major co-receptor for cell entry of HIV, CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) has also been implicated in the pathogenesis of HCV infection. Here, we investigated whether CCR5 haplotypes influence HIV-1 and HCV seropositivity among 373 Caucasian IDUs from Estonia. Methods: Of these IDUs, 56% and 44% were HIV and HCV seropositive, respectively, and 47% were coinfected. 500 blood donors seronegative for HIV and HCV were also evaluated. CCR5 haplotypes (HHA to HHG*2) were derived after genotyping nine CCR2–CCR5 polymorphisms.
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