Investigação dos polimorfismos no éxon 1 do gene MBL (Mannose-Binding Lectin) e sua associação com a síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida (AIDS)

Abstract

The present study investigated the frequency of the mutations in the exon 1 of the MBL gene in a sample of 128 Aids patients, 116 HIV-1 infected asymptomatic individuals, 84 healthy sex worker women with high risk behavior and 99 healthy control individuals, in order to evaluate the occurrence of a possible association between the polymorphisms and HIV-1 infection. The MBL*A, *B, *C and *D alleles identification was performed through a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by restriction endonucleases analyses (RFLP). The analysis of allele and genotype frequencies in the exon 1 of MBL gene did not show any differences between seropositives patients (asymptomatic and Aids individuals) and seronegatives individuals (healthy and high risk controls) (p>0,05). It was not show significant associations between the presences of other related infections and the presence of the alleles variant. However, tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis of the brain, candidosis, meningitis by cryptococcos and pneumonia was the most prevalent co-infections. Associations between the MBL gene polymorphisms and the number of CD4+ T-cells and plasma viral load in the Aids and asymptomatic patients were not statistically significant. Therefore, it has been suggested the absence of association between the polymorphisms and the HIV-1 infection susceptibility, emphasizing the need for further studies to determinate if the present polymorphisms have any impact associated with infection or the progression to Aids.