A polymorphism in the HCP5 gene associated with HLA-B*5701 does not restrict HIV-1 in vitro

A single-nucleotide polymorphism (rs2395029) in the HCP5 gene associated with HLA-B5701 is correlated with lower HIV-1 viral set point. The two allelic forms of coding region were ectopically expressed in TZM-bl cells for an effect on HIV-1 replication. No significant HIV-1 restriction was observed in the cells with infectivity assays throughout HIV-1 life cycle, suggesting that the association of HCP5 variant with viral control is likely due to HLA-B5701-related effect or other functional variants in the haplotype or both.