Abstract

Inga Azina,* Jelena Eglite, Oksana Kolesova, Aleksandrs Kolesovs, Jelena Storozenko, Gunta Sture, Elvira Hagina, Baiba Rozentale and Aivars Lejnieks

ABSTRACT

Aims: To demonstrate the relationship between HLA Class II alleles related to tuberculosis predisposition and resistance and markers of patients immunological status (CD4+ cells count, IFN-? and IL-10), and the activity of HIV-1 infection (viral load). Study design: Combined cross-sectional comparison and correlative study. Place and Duration of Study: Riga East University Hospital, Latvian Centre of Infectious Disease between January 2012 and January 2016. Methodology: HIV-1/TB group included 158 patients at age from 23 to 59 with HIV-1 infection and with confirmed tuberculosis. HIV-1 group included 100 patients at age from 18 to 48 with HIV-1 infection without tuberculosis. HLA typing of DRB1, DQA1, and DQB1 loci was performed by RT-PCR with sequence-specific primers (DNA-Technology, Russia). Levels of cytokines in plasma were measured using ELISA method by Vector-Best kits (Russia). CD4+ cells count detection was provided using CD4 % easy count kit, (Germany). Viral load (HIV-1 RNA) was performed by COBAS® AmpliPrep/COBAS® TaqMan HIV-1 Test, version 2.0. Results: Five protective and four risk alleles were associated with genetic predisposition to tuberculosis. In HIV-1/TB group, the risk allele HLA-DQB1*04:01 is associated with lower CD4+ cells count, higher viral load and higher level of IL-10. Protective alleles (HLA-DRB1*01, HLA-DQA1*01:02, HLADQB1* 06:02) are related to higher CD4+ cells count, lower viral load, lower IL-10, and longer interval between HIV-1 beginning and detection of tuberculosis. Conclusion: HLA Class II alleles are responsible for the genetic predisposition to HIV-associated tuberculosis and can impact the course of this disease.