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- Title
HIV-Specific CD4<sup>+</sup> T Cells May Contribute to Viral Persistence in HIV Controllers.
- Authors
Hunt, Peter W.; Hatano, Hiroyu; Sinclair, Elizabeth; Tzong-Hae Lee; Busch, Michael P.; Martin, Jeffrey N.; McCune, Joseph M.; Deeks, Steven G.
- Abstract
Background. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)--infected individuals maintaining plasma HIV RNA levels <75 copies/mL in the absence of therapy (''HIV controllers'') often maintain high HIV-specific T cell responses, which likely contribute to the control of viral replication. Despite robust immune responses, these individuals never eradicate HIV infection. We hypothesized that HIV-specific CD4+ T cells might serve as target cells for HIV, contributing to viral persistence in this setting. Methods. We measured frequencies of activated (CD38+ HLA-DR+) and HIV Gag-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and plasma- and cell-associated levels of HIV RNA and DNA in a cohort of 38 HIV controllers. Results. Although there was no evidence of a relationship between the extent of low-level viremia and the frequency of either activated or HIV-specific CD4+ T cells, controllers with higher HIV-specific CD4+ T cell frequencies had higher cell-associated HIV DNA levels (ρ = 0.53; P = .019). Higher activated CD4+ T cell frequencies were also associated with higher levels of cell-associated DNA (P = .027) and RNA (P = .0096). However, there was no evidence of a relationship between cell-associated HIV RNA or DNA levels and HIV-specific CD8+ T cell frequencies. Conclusions. These data support a model in which strong HIV-specific CD4+ T cell responses in HIV controllers, while contributing to a potent adaptive immune response, may also contribute to viral persistence, preventing the natural eradication of HIV infection.
- Publication
Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2011, Vol 52, Issue 5, p681
- ISSN
1058-4838
- Publication type
Academic Journal
- DOI
10.1093/cid/ciq202