Association of KIR3DL1/S1 and HLA-Bw4 with CD4 T cell counts in HIV-infected Mexican mestizos

Certain genotypic combinations of killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) and human leukocyte antigens (HLA) have been associated with favourable outcomes after exposure to human immunodeficiency virus in Caucasoid and African populations. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is characterized by a rapid exhaustion of CD4 cells, which results in impaired cellular immunity. During this early phase of infection, it is thought that the natural killer (NK) cells represent the main effector arm of the host immune response to HIV. This study investigates whether KIR and HLA factors are associated to CD4 T cell numbers after HIV infection in Mexican mestizos as assessed at the time of initial medical evaluation and subsequent clinical follow-up. KIR and HLA-B gene carrier frequency differences were compared between groups of patients stratified by CD4 T cell numbers as assessed during their first medical evaluation (a point in time at which all patients were anti-retroviral therapy na < ve). In addition, the influence that these genetic factors have on averaged historical CD4 cell counts in patients subjected to follow-up (mostly therapy-experienced) was also evaluated. Our results suggest a protective role for the HLA-Bw4 and KIR3D + Bw4 combination in both therapy-na < ve and therapy-experienced patients. This report furthers our understanding on the way that immune genes modulate HIV disease progression in less-studied human populations such as the Mexican mestizos with a special focus on CD4 T cell number and behaviour.