Genetic markers associated to dyslipidemia in HIV-infected individuals on HAART

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Cardiovascular Health
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Dyslipidemia is a common complication in HIV-infected patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART).
• Genetic predisposition may play a role in lipid level variations among these patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in candidate genes and dyslipidemia in HIV-infected patients on stable ART.
• To identify specific genetic variants that impact lipid profiles (triglycerides, LDL-C, HDL-C) in this population.

Main Methods:

• Genotyping of 9 SNPs across 6 genes (APOB, APOA5, APOE, APOC3, SCAP, LDLR) in 614 HIV-infected patients.
• Analysis of associations between genotypes and lipid parameters (total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides).
• Utilized conventional and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for SNP genotyping.

Main Results:

• High prevalence of dyslipidemia (79%) observed in patients treated with protease inhibitors.
• APOE genotypes (rs429358, rs7412) and APOA5 -1131T>C (rs662799) associated with triglyceride and LDL-C levels.
• APOA5 -1131T>C (rs662799) and SCAP 2386A>G (rs12487736) linked to HDL-C levels.
• APOB polymorphisms (rs17240441, rs693) associated with total cholesterol and LDL-C.

Conclusions:

• Genetic factors are crucial in determining lipid levels in HIV-infected individuals.
• The findings support the potential benefit of pre-treatment genotyping to guide the selection of personalized antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens.
• Further studies are warranted to explore the clinical implications of these genetic associations for ART management.