Association of <i>PLA2G2A</i> single nucleotide polymorphism and cardiometabolic diseases in an HIV‑infected population

While single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the <i>phospholipase A2</i> (<i>PLA2</i>) gene have been associated with cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs), such associations are yet to be demonstrated in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected African population. Therefore, the association between SNPs of the <i>PLA2</i> gene and CMDs in a South African population with HIV was investigated. This cross-sectional study included 716 participants recruited from HIV clinics in Cape Town, South Africa. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) was assessed for the SNPs investigated. CMDs were compared across the genotypes of the SNPs in HWE. Linear and logistic regression analyses, adjusting for age and sex were used to assess the risk of CMDs across the genotypes. Among the SNPs investigated, rs4744 with GG (dominant) and AA (recessive) genotypes were in HWE (P=0.998). High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C; P=0.044) and a BMI ≥30 kg/m² (P=0.037) were significantly higher in participants with the dominant genotype compared with those with the recessive genotype of the rs4744 SNP. Moreover, the rs4744 recessive genotype was associated with dyslipidemia characterized by low HDL-C in linear regression (β=0.366; P=0.024) and logistic regression (OR=0.19; P=0.049), and also associated with MetS in logistic regression (OR=0.14; P=0.036). In conclusion, the phospholipase A2 group IIA (<i>PLA2G2A</i>) gene has a potential utility for CMD risk assessment in African individuals with HIV.