Nyiro, BrianAmanya, Sharon B.Nabatanzi, RoseBayiyana, AliceKalazane, Linda I.Waswa, FrancisNabulime, EvaKarara, DanielKabali, JoelMboowa, GeraldKayongo, AlexKateete, David P.Nankya, Immaculate2022-12-012022-12-012020Nyiro, B., Amanya, S. B., Nabatanzi, R., Bayiyana, A., Kalazane, L. I., Waswa, F., ... & Sande, O. J. (2020). CCR5 promoter variants among Ugandan HIV-1 elite and viremic controllers: a laboratory‑based cross‑sectional study.https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7131-8137https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7131-8137https://nru.uncst.go.ug/handle/123456789/5604Mechanisms for HIV control among HIV-1 elite and viremic-controllers are not fully understood. In Uganda, Studies have reported individuals who without Antiretroviral therapy have the inherent ability to control HIV progression to AIDS for a period of greater than 5 years. However, reasons for this phenotype are not understood. The study objective was to determine the distribution of CCR5 co-receptor on CD4+ T-cells and its associated promoter variants among HIV-1 elite and viremic-controllers. Methods We isolated CD4+T-cells from PBMCs using EasySep CD4+ T-cell negative selection kit, and stimulated them with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 for 48 hours. To quantify CCR5 expression, we performed immune-phenotyping using flow cytometry. CCR5 promoter polymorphisms were determined through sanger sequencing. The Kruskal–Wallis and the Mann-Whitney test were used to compare differences in the percentages of CCR5+ CD4+ T-cells and the differences in CCR5 densities on CD4+ T-cells respectively. p values < 0.05 were considered significant. Results The percentage of CCR5+CD4+ T-cells was higher among the non-controllers compared to the controllers although, the difference was not statistically significant; elite and viremic-controllers (p=0.9173), viremic and non-controllers (0.0702), elite and non-controllers (0.6010). Of significance was the CCR5 densities on CD4+ T-cells, which were significantly higher among non-controllers relative to the controllers; elite and viremic-controllers (p=3048), viremic and non43 controllers (P=0.0312), elite and non-controllers (P=0.0210)enCCR5HIVElite controllersViremic controllers and non-controllersArticle