HIV and host immunogenetics: unraveling the role of HLA-C

Abstract

Host genetic factors play a major role in determining the outcome of many infections including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Multiple host factors have been studied till date showing their varied role in susceptibility or resistance to HIV infection. HLA-C, however, has been recently started gaining interest in researchers mind revealing its polymorphisms to have an important effect on viral load set-points, disease progression as well as transmission. In this review report, we have compiled these significant findings of HLA-C in HIV infection, in an attempt to highlight the need for further research in the area in different ethnic population to establish its role in the infection.

Keywords: 3′untranslated region; HIV-1; HLA-C; human leukocyte antigen; progression; transmission; −35 kb single nucleotide polymorphisms.