Although the function of the association between the DC-SIGNR VNTR polymorphism and host susceptibility to HIV-1 infection has not been fully explored, outcomes of this metaanalysis suggest that the DC-SIGNR VNTR polymorphism had an impact on host susceptibility to HIV-1 infection. A study by Xu By using the healthy samples as controls, the comparison was carried out between the HIV-1 patients and healthy samples; (B) By using the HIV-1 exposed but seronegative (HESN) samples as controls, the comparison was carried out between the HIV-1 patients and the HIV-1 exposed but seronegative (HESN) samples. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0042972.g003 et al. [18] showed that patients carrying the 5-repeat DC-SIGNR allele had significantly lower HIV-RNA levels compared with those observed in patients with the 7-and 9-repeat DC-SIGNR alleles, though they did not observe that the different genotypes/ alleles were associated with CD4+ T cell numbers. In vitro studies also demonstrated that DC-SIGNR with equal to or less than 5repeat alleles displayed unstable homozygous or heterozygous DC-SIGNR aggregates [33] accompanied by changes in affinity for HIV-1gp120 glycoprotein [34] . Data from these in vivo/vitro functional studies gave some support to the hypothesis that the 5/5 homozygous genotype might confer more resistance to HIV-1 infection. However, these associations were far from conclusive. More functional in vivo studies are needed.