Frequency of CCR۵Δ۳۲ Allelic Mutation in Healthy Individuals in Zanjan Province

Background and Objective: CCR۵ is known as a main co-receptor in HIV infection. Many studies demonstrated that ۳۲bp deletion in both CCR۵ alleles provide natural resistance to HIV infection, so new treatment approaches are based on inducing this resistance by means of gene and cell therapies. This projects aim was the discovery of suitable candidates for new therapeutic strategies in addition to determining the CCR۵ Δ۳۲ mutation frequency in healthy individuals in Zanjan province for the first time. Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from ۲۰۰ healthy individuals in EDTA pre-coated tubes. Genomic DNA was extracted and analyzed for CCR۵ Δ۳۲ mutation by GAP-PCR. The allele frequency was calculated using the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). Results: Our findings showed ۱ healthy individual had CCR۵ Δ۳۲/Δ۳۲ mutation and the allele frequency of CCR۵Δ۳۲ was calculated to be ۰.۵%. Conclusion: Results of this study proved previous reports that Iranian populations are more susceptible to HIV/AIDS compared to the European population. Different climate-geographical conditions, migration and positive natural selection could explain various distribution of Δ۳۲ allele frequency in European countries compared to Iran. Consequently, Iranians require more effective and novel therapeutic approaches for HIV infection therapy and could benefit from reducing retro-viral drug restrictions.

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Key Words: CCR۵ Δ۳۲ , HIV , AIDS , Iran