Correlation between HIV-1 seropositivity and prevalence of a γ-secretase polymorphism in two distinct ethnic populations

Susceptibility for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection may be influenced by host genetics. Recent findings with a Wistar rat model raised the possibility that the γ-secretase pathway may be associated with an individual's susceptibility to infection. A functional single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the γ-secretase component APH1B (Phe217Leu; rs1047552) was therefore analyzed for association with HIV-1 infection. The SNP showed a tendency for association with HIV-1 infection in a Xhosa indigenous South African Bantu study (P = 0.087), and associated significantly in a Caucasian Dutch study (P = 0.049). Together, the results suggest a role for the γ-secretase pathway in susceptibility to HIV-1 infection. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.