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Published on: March 30, 2014
HIV serostatus differs by catechol-O-methyltransferase Val158Met genotype
Erin E Sundermann1, Jeffrey R Bishop, Leah H Rubin
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
AIDS (London, England)
|June 29, 2013
Summary
Women with HIV were more likely to have the Met allele of the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met gene variant. This finding may link dopamine function, risk-taking behaviors, and HIV infection.
Area of Science:
- Neurogenetics
- Infectious Diseases
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met polymorphism influences cortical dopamine levels.
- The Met allele is linked to increased risk behaviors such as illicit drug use and unprotected sex.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if the Val158Met genotype distribution differs between HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women.
- To explore potential genetic predispositions related to HIV serostatus.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional analysis of data from the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS).
- Comparison of genotype frequencies using Armitage-Cochran test and logistic regression.
- Study included 1848 HIV-infected and 612 HIV-uninfected women.
Main Results:
- HIV-infected women showed a higher prevalence of the Met allele (61%) compared to HIV-uninfected women (54%).
- The difference in Met allele carriage was statistically significant (P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- A novel association was found between the COMT Val158Met genotype and HIV serostatus.
- This association may be mediated by dopamine's role in influencing risk-taking propensity.
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