Cell Host Microbe. 2009 May 8; 5(5):408-10; author reply 418-9.

PubMed ID: 19454339

The Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines null promoter variant does not influence HIV-1 acquisition or disease progression

Walley NM, Julg B, Dickson SP, Fellay J, Ge D, Walker BD, Carrington M, Cohen MS, de Bakker PI, Goldstein DB, Shianna KV, Haynes BF, Letvin NL, McMichael AJ, Michael NL, Weintrob AC

Ma’am – We read with great interest the article by He et al. [2008] describing the effects on HIV acquisition and disease progression of a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP, rs2814778, -46T→C) that disrupts the promoter region of the Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC) gene and abolishes gene expression in red blood cells. He et al. reported that HIV-infected African Americans have a frequency of the null homozygous genotype (-46C/C) of 70% while non-HIV infected individuals have a null genotype frequency of 60%. Based on this frequency difference they argued that the null allele confers susceptibility to infection with HIV-1. They also reported that the null genotype is associated with better outcomes amongst those who do become infected, including longer survival, slower loss of CD4+ T-lymphocytes, and delayed progression to HIV-associated dementia.