Polymorphisms in the CCR5 and CCR2 genes and their Frequencies in the Middle Eastern Population

Abstract

Background: The expression of proteins, and consequently the course of HIV-1 illness, can be influenced by the polymorphisms that can be detected in the CCR5 gene's regulatory region. As a result of this major role, variants in this gene have been subjected to diverse pressures, which has led to differences in the frequency at which they occur among human populations. There is a strong correlation between polymorphisms in the CCR2V64I mutation and CCR5 gene. As a consequence of their long history as merchants who dominated large areas within and around the Indian Ocean, the people who currently live in the Middle East have a diversified genetic makeup. Methods: In this particular piece of research, we investigated the CCR2-CCR5 haplotypes that are found in the Middle East and compared the genetic diversity patterns of these haplotypes to those found in other populations. Results: A total of one hundred adults from the Middle East had blood samples taken from them, and their genomic DNA was analyzed to look for polymorphism locations in the CCR5 gene as well as the CCR2V64I mutation. The frequencies of CCR5-2554T was 49% and CCR5-2086G 46%, while the frequencies of CCR5-2459A and CCR5-2135C were 36%. Conclusions: These alleles displayed a modest degree of heterozygosity, which is an indication that balancing selection was acting upon them. On the other side, the well-known allele CCR532 was far less prevalent than expected. Eleven different haplotypes were discovered, with four of them being particularly prevalent: HHC, HH, HHA, and HHF*2. (46%, 20%, 14% and 12%) respectively.