TRIM22 genotype is not associated with markers of disease progression in children with HIV-1 infection.

OBJECTIVE

Untreated perinatal HIV-1 infection is often associated with rapid disease progression in children with HIV (CWH), characterized by high viral loads and early mortality. TRIM22 is a host restriction factor, which directly inhibits HIV-1 transcription, and its genotype variation is associated with disease progression in adults. We tested the hypothesis that TRIM22 genotype is associated with disease progression in CWH.

DESIGN

ART-naive CWH, aged 6-16 years, were recruited from primary care clinics in Harare, Zimbabwe. We performed a candidate gene association study of TRIM22 genotype and haplotypes with markers of disease progression and indicators of advanced disease.

METHODS

TRIM22 exons three and four were sequenced by Sanger sequencing and single nucleotide polymorphisms were associated with markers of disease progression (CD4+ T-cell count and HIV viral load) and clinical indicators of advanced HIV disease (presence of stunting and chronic diarrhoea). Associations were tested using multivariate linear and logistic regression models.

RESULTS

A total of 241 children, median age 11.4 years, 50% female, were included. Stunting was present in 16% of participants. Five SNPs were analyzed including rs7935564, rs2291842, rs78484876, rs1063303 and rs61735273. The median CD4+ count was 342 (IQR: 195-533) cells/μl and median HIV-1 viral load 34 199 (IQR: 8211-90 662) IU/ml. TRIM22 genotype and haplotypes were not associated with CD4+ T-cell count, HIV-1 viral load, stunting or chronic diarrhoea.

CONCLUSION

TRIM22 genotype was not associated with markers of HIV disease progression markers or advanced disease in CWH.