Associations of SLCO1B1 polymorphism with virological efficacy in children with HIV infection

The aim of the study was to identify the association between polymorphism of the SLCO1B1 gene and virological efficacy in children receiving lopinavir as part of their antiretroviral therapy. Material and methods. The study included 48 children with HIV infection aged 4 to 17 years receiving lopinavir as part of their antiretroviral therapy. The first group of 32 patients with virological efficacy included children with undetectable viral load <50 copies/ml, the second group of 16 patients without virological efficacy included children with detectable viral load >50 copies/ml. The libraries were prepared according to the DNA Flex protocol, following the manufacturer’s recommendations (Illumina, USA). Sequencing was performed on the NextSeq 550 platform. Results. Targeted sequencing of the SLCO1B1 gene region revealed 37 polymorphisms. Analysis of the identified polymorphisms showed that rs4149056 of the SLCO1B1 gene is associated with virological efficacy in children with HIV infection. The carriage of TC/CC genotypes of the rs4149056 polymorphism was registered more often in the group with virological efficacy than without it (odds ratio 0.14, 95% confidence interval 0.01–0.812, p = 0.017). Conclusions. The carriage of TC/CC genotypes of the rs4149056 polymorphism may serve as a predictor of virological efficacy in children with HIV infection receiving lopinavir therapy in combination antiretroviral therapy.