Prevalence of the CCR5Δ32 mutation in Brazilian populations and cell susceptibility to HIV-1 infection

Abstract

We investigated the occurrence of the CCR5Δ32 mutation in various regional ethnic groups in Brazil and tested the resistance of mutant peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to infection by HIV-1 in vitro. The heterozygous prevalence was 5.3% in uninfected African descendents and 8.8% in HIV-1-positive individuals (neither population had Δ32/Δ32). German descendents were 11% heterozygous and l% Δ32/Δ32. Amerindians were exclusively CCR5/CCR5. Heterozygous uninfected PBMCs showed partial resistance to R5-HIV-1 strains in vitro, but no resistance to X4 virus. HIV-1-positive CCR5/CCR5 had higher viral loads than did heterozygous cells.