Impact of Anti-CD4 Autoantibodies on Immune Reconstitution in People With Advanced Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Background: Despite suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART), 15%-30% of people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) experience a limited recovery of CD4 T cells. Although autoantibodies against the CD4 receptor have previously been identified in people with HIV (PWH), little is known about their longitudinal impact on CD4 T-cell reconstitution.

Methods: Anti-CD4 autoantibodies were evaluated by the fluid-phase luciferase immunoprecipitation systems immunoassay in ART-naive people with advanced HIV (CD4 count ≤100 cells/µL), PWH with CD4 count >200 cells/µL, long-term nonprogressors, people with idiopathic CD4 lymphopenia, people with autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome, and healthy volunteers without HIV. In the participants with advanced HIV, we assessed the association of anti-CD4 autoantibodies at ART initiation with CD4 recovery over a median follow-up of 192 weeks.

Results: Anti-CD4 autoantibodies were identified in 29% (61/210) of ART-naive participants with advanced HIV but were absent in people without HIV. Female PWH showed a 4-fold higher prevalence (P < .001) of anti-CD4 autoantibodies compared to males. After ART initiation, people with advanced HIV with anti-CD4 autoantibodies exhibited an overall slower rate of CD4 reconstitution (5.8 vs 6.6 cells/µL/month, P = .007) and lower week 192 CD4 count (268 vs 355 cells/µL, P = .037). Incidental, clinically indicated immunosuppressive therapy in these participants was associated with an improved rate of CD4 reconstitution (P = .0019) and higher week 192 CD4 count (551 vs 268 cells/µL, P = .019).

Conclusions: People with advanced HIV harboring anti-CD4 autoantibodies at ART initiation demonstrated a slower rate and extent of CD4 reconstitution after 4 years. Incidental immunosuppressive therapy was associated with increased CD4 counts in these participants.