Effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the RANTES promoter region in healthy and HIV-infected indigenous Chinese.

Summary We determined the occurrence of the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) −403A/G and −28C/G in the promoter region of RANTES in 1082 Chinese blood donors from northern and southern China and 249 HIV patients from southern China. Compared to healthy adults, Chinese AIDS patients had a significantly higher frequency of the −403G allele and haplotype I, −403G/−28C (P < 0.05), and a lower frequency of the −403A/A genotype (P < 0.01). Symptomatic patients had a higher frequency of the −28G allele and a lower frequency of the −28C/C genotype (P ≤ 0.01). The plasma RANTES level was significantly lower in blood donors homozygous for haplotype I than in those who were homozygous for haplotypes II and III (P < 0.05). The frequency of the −403G allele was found to be higher in Chinese than in indigenous Africans, but lower than in Caucasians, Hispanics, and African Americans. The frequency of the −28G allele was comparable in Chinese and Japanese; this allele is rare in other ethnic groups. Results suggest that −403G may be associated with increased susceptibility to HIV infection, while −28G may be associated with advanced disease progression. The impact of SNPs on HIV infection appears to be unique in Chinese.