Abstract:
Genetic variation in haptoglobin, a plasma protein, has been reported to be associated
with susceptibility to and the rate of HIV/AIDS progression. The purpose of this study
was to investigate the influence of haptoglobin polymorphism on HIV/AIDS in black
South Africans. Polymorphism in the coding region of the haptoglobin gene was detected
by direct DNA and allele-specific amplification. Polymorphism in the coding region of
the gene was detected by amplification of DNA and by polyacrylamide gel
electrophoresis of plasma protein. A statistically significant association was observed
between allele -61C and resistance to HIV infection. The Hp0 phenotype, in which no
haptoglobin protein is detected, was associated with HIV status and some promoter
genotypes. Since in our study population there were a few samples with usable clinical
data , further investigations need to be done to confirm the association of the -61C allele
and the Hp0 phenotype with the risk of HIV infection.
