Association of HLA class II gene polymorphisms and expression levels of ORAI1/STIM1 genes in HIV-1–positive patients with HIV-related dermatoses in Latvia

Introduction: This study explores the immunogenetic associations of human leukocyte antigens (HLA) and the calcium release-activated calcium modulator 1 (ORAI1) and stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) genes in HIV-1–positive patients with HIV-related skin disorders. Methods: This study assessed the distribution of variants of HLA class II alleles and expression levels of ORAI1 and STIM1 genes in the blood between HIV-1–positive patients with HIV-related skin disorders and the control group with no HIV within the Latvian population. Results: The research group comprised 115 HIV-1–positive patients with HIV-related skin disorders, and the control group included 80 healthy individuals. Risk alleles (HLA-DQB1*02:01-0301 and HLA-DQA1*01:01-0501) and protective alleles (HLA-DRB1*07-13, DRB1*01-13, DRB1*04-11, and HLA-DQA1*05:01-0501) showed statistical significance in the groups. In 38 out of 115 patients, higher expression levels of ORAI1 and STIM1 genes were detected in the blood at the beginning of treatment. A significantly higher level of the microribonucleic acid (mRNA) ORAI1 gene was also found in the control group. Conclusions: The results demonstrate that HLA class II alleles are associated with a trend toward risk/protection concerning HIV-related skin disorders in HIV-1–positive patients. It was also shown that a low level of ORAI1 mRNA and the risk allele HLA-DQB1*0201-0301 were simultaneously present in the research group.