Comprehensive analysis of unique cases with extraordinary control over HIV replication

Blood. 2012 May 17;119(20):4645-55. doi: 10.1182/blood-2011-10-381996. Epub 2012 Apr 5.

Abstract

True long-term nonprogressors (LTNPs)/elite controllers (ECs) maintain durable control over HIV replication without antiretroviral therapy. Herein we describe 4 unique persons who were distinct from conventional LTNPs/ECs in that they had extraordinarily low HIV burdens and comparatively weak immune responses. As a group, typical LTNPs/ECs have unequivocally reactive HIV-1 Western blots, viral loads below the lower threshold of clinical assays, low levels of persistent viral reservoirs, an over-representation of protective HLA alleles, and robust HIV-specific CD8(+) T-cell responses. The 4 unique cases were distinguished from typical LTNPs/ECs based on weakly reactive Western blots, undetectable plasma viremia by a single copy assay, extremely low to undetectable HIV DNA levels, and difficult to isolate replication-competent virus. All 4 had at least one protective HLA allele and CD8(+) T-cell responses that were disproportionately high for the low antigen levels but comparatively lower than those of typical LTNPs/ECs. These unique persons exhibit extraordinary suppression over HIV replication, therefore, higher-level control than has been demonstrated in previous studies of LTNPs/ECs. Additional insight into the full spectrum of immune-mediated suppression over HIV replication may enhance our understanding of the associated mechanisms, which should inform the design of efficacious HIV vaccines and immunotherapies.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / blood
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV Long-Term Survivors*
  • HIV Seropositivity / immunology
  • HIV Seropositivity / virology
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • HIV-1 / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Viral Load
  • Virus Replication / immunology
  • Virus Replication / physiology