MDR1 genetic polymorphism does not modify either cell permissiveness to HIV-1 or disease progression before treatment.

Nonphysiological overexpression of the ABC transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp), which is encoded by MDR1, has been associated with reduced susceptibility to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 infection in vitro. We analyzed (1) the expression and genotype of MDR1 and their relationship to HIV-1 permissiveness of CD4+ T cells from 128 healthy blood donors and (2) the role that alleles of MDR1 exons 21 and 26 play in modifying disease progression in 411 HIV-1-infected individuals. Differences in physiological levels of MDR1 expression did not modify HIV-1 infection in vitro, nor did MDR1 alleles and haplotypes significantly influence either permissiveness to infection in vitro or disease progression in vivo before the initiation of treatment.