A single nucleotide polymorphism in TLR4 is linked with the risk of HIV-1 infection.

INTRODUCTION: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are pattern recognition receptors that play a role in innate immunity. Mounting evidence shows that single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TLRs link to various infectious diseases, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We hypothesised links between two TLR4 SNPs (rs4986790 leading to Asp299Gly and rs4986791 leading to Thr399Ile) and HIV.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited 160 HIV-1 seropositive patients, who were further divided on disease severity based on CD4 count (stage I, II, and III), and 270 age and sex matched healthy HIV-1 seronegative (HSN) individuals. The subjects were genotyped for TLR4 gene polymorphism by PCR-RFLP.

RESULTS: TLR4 Asp299Gly heterozygous genotype (p=0.004) and the mutant allele G (p=0.002) were more frequent in patients with HIV-1 infection than healthy controls, and also in stage I of the infection (p=0.034) compared to different stages II, bout in stage I versus stage III. There was no link between the Thr399Ile polymorphism and HIV infection.

CONCLUSION: TLR4 (Asp299Gly) gene polymorphism is a risk factor in HIV-1 disease.