Association of HLA-B alleles with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection in the Yi ethnic group in Sichuan province.

Objective: To determine the distribution of HLA-B alleles in the Chinese Yi ethnic group and its association with HIV infection.

Methods: One hundred and six unrelated healthy HIV negative and 73 HIV positive Chinese Yi ethnic individuals were typed by PCR-SSP.

Results: The frequency of alleles B*07, Bx 35, and B*46 were increased in HIV-1-positive subjects, whereas the alleles B*55, B*44 and B*78 were absent in the HIV-infected persons studied. The B*46 allele was present in a significantly higher gene frequency among HIV-1-positive individuals (P=0.02, OR=3.32, 95% CI=1.13-9.78) compared with control subjects.

Conclusion: HLA-B*46 may be associated with its susceptibility to HIV-1 infections.