Polymorphic Receptors of the Innate Immune System (MBL/MASP-2 and TLR2/4) and Susceptibility to Pneumococcal Bacteremia in HIV-Infected Patients: A Case-Control Study

Some deficient genetic polymorphisms of the innate immune system have been correlated to a higher susceptibility to different infections, especially in immunocompromised patients. The possible association between an increased incidence of pneumococcal bacteremia in HIV-infected patients, and deficient polymorphisms of the mannose-binding lectin (MBL), MBL-associated serine protease 2 (MASP-2), and toll-like receptors (TLR) 2 and 4 is analyzed by means of a case-control study. Cases: HIV-infected patients with pneumococcal bacteremia. Controls: HIV-infected patients without previous pneumococcal bacteremia matched with cases by sex and CD4 count in a 2:1 ratio. Fifty-seven cases and 114 controls were studied. Demographics, HIV infection status, antiretroviral therapy, risk factors for pneumococcal disease, and genotypes of MBL2, MASP2, TLR2 and TLR4 were analyzed. The prevalence of the MBL2, MASP2, TLR2 and TLR4 gene polymorphisms was similar in both groups. No statistical significance was found (OR 0.77, IC95% 0.27 - 2.13) when analyzing the possible association of MBL2 deficient polymorphisms with pneumococcal bacteremia. In HIV infected patients, no association between the presence of deficient polymorphisms of MBL2, MASP2, TLR2 and TLR4 and the incidence of pneumococcal bacteremia was found.