African Gene Variant Could Increase Risk of HIV

Imagine that tens of thousands of years ago, the human body evolved and mutated its genes slightly to protect itself from an epidemic that was sweeping the nation during that time. Would there be repercussions of that mutation in the modern body? Evidently so, according to American and British researchers who recently co-wrote an article developed for the Cell Host & Microbe journal.

The findings of this new research demonstrate why Africa may be the hardest hit continent when it comes to AIDS infections. According to this new research, tens of thousands of years ago, a gene mutated in the African population which was useful in helping the body in its protection against malaria. However, this same gene variant may be responsible for giving the African population more of a risk of becoming infected with HIV (up to a 40% higher risk). In an even stranger twist, however, if someone possessing this gene variant becomes infected with HIV, their chances of living a longer life as somebody infected with HIV is increased. DARC, or Duffy Antigen Receptor for Chemokines, is the name of the protein that is attached to the gene. If the person has the gene variant, then they do not have this protein, or receptor, as part of their red blood cells; thus, they have extra protection against the malaria parasite (Plasmodium vivax).

The research has indicated that this gene variant may be responsible for up to 11% of all HIV cases in Africa. Approximately two-thirds of all people infected with HIV (over 33 million people) live in Africa. While, indeed, sexual and social factors play a large role for these cases, this gene variant definitely comes into play. One researcher, Sunil Ahuja from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, explains that possessing this gene variant is very much a “double-edged sword.” As mentioned before, while the gene variant increases one’s risk of becoming infected with HIV, it does also happen to increase the time it takes for HIV to become full-blown AIDS. The researchers have indicated that possessing the gene variant has allowed those infected with HIV to live approximately two years longer than those who do not possess the gene.

Research has shown that over 90% of those living in Africa have this gene variant and that over 60% of those descended from Africa who live in America also possess this gene variant. The United Nations reports that over 2.1 million people succumbed to AIDS last year and that over 1.5 million of those were from Africa. Those researching this gene variant used a study of slightly less than 3,500 black Americans that have been tracked since the 1980s. 2,000 of those are not infected with HIV and just over 1,200 of those are. The gene variant was found to be more apparent in those who were infected with HIV than those who were not. Research has also indicated that very few people not of African descent even possess this gene mutation and that those hailing from Europe do not show it at all.