Identification of Genotypes and Allelic Prevalence of the Vitamin D Nuclear Receptor Gene in People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Côte d'Ivoire

Introduction: Studies conducted in Côte d'Ivoire with HIV patients have revealed disorders in phosphorus/calcium metabolism and 25-hydroxyvitmin D<sub>3</sub> status. Due to the important role played by VDR-1,25 (OH)<sub>2</sub> D<sub>3</sub> in the biological activity of 25-hydroxyvitamin D<sub>3</sub>, it has become necessary to describe the polymorphism of 4 fragments (Fok-1, Bsm-1, Apa-1, Taq-1) of the nuclear receptor gene Vitamin D<sub>3</sub> (VDR) in PLHIV. Methods: The study collected blood samples from 50 individuals, including 32 HIV positive patients and 18 HIV negative as a control. The extraction of genomic DNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was done using the QIAamp kit (QIAGEN). After amplification, the PCR products obtained were purified using the "High Pure PCR product purification kit" and sequenced at Eurofilms MWG operon. Results: The prevalence of the Fok-1 mutant C allele was 87.5% (28/32) in PLHIV against 77.8% (14/18) in controls. The single mutant genotype Thr1Met4 was 62.5% in PLHIV versus 55.6% in controls. The prevalence of the mutant allele A (g.63510 A) of Bsm-1 (rs 1544410) was 28% in HIV-infected against 66.7% (12/18) in controls. The mutant GG genotype was more prevalent in 34.4% of PLHIV. Two types of mutant alleles A (g.65023 A) and C (g.65024 C) and the AC mutant genotype of Apa-1 (rs 7975232) were more observed in 28% of those infected with HIV versus 0% in controls. No significant difference was observed between the frequencies of wild T (g.65058 T) allele and mutant C or A (g.65058 C or A) of Taq-1 (rs 731236) (p = 0.47). The wild genotype Ile352 was the most common regarding the Taq-1 polymorphism. Ten PLHIV and controls have the combination Fok-1 + Bsm-1 in common. The combinations Fok-1 + Bsm-1 + Apa-1 and Fok-1 + Apa-1 were specific to PLHIV. Conclusion: The blood sample of PLHIV subjects is characterized by polymorphisms affecting Fok-1, Bsm-1, and Apa-1. In addition, the combination of Fok-1 and Bsm-1 was observed in both PLHIV patients and controls.