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Rauschning D, Ehren I, Heger E, Knops E, Fätkenheuer G, Suárez I, Lehmann C. Optimizing Antiretroviral Therapy in Heavily ART-Experienced Patients with Multi-Class Resistant HIV-1 Using Proviral DNA Genotypic Resistance Testing. Viruses 2023; 15:1444. [PMID: 37515133 PMCID: PMC10384096 DOI: 10.3390/v15071444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Resistance to multiple antiretroviral drugs among people living with HIV (PLWH) can result in a high pill burden, causing toxicity and drug interactions. Thus, the goal is to simplify treatment regimens while maintaining effectiveness. However, former resistance analysis data may not be current or complete. The use of proviral DNA genotyping may assist in selecting appropriate treatment options. A retrospective study was carried out on individuals belonging to the Cologne HIV cohort with a resistance history to two or more antiretroviral (ARV) classes and on non-standard antiretroviral therapy (ART). Patients required former viral RNA and a recent proviral DNA resistance test to be available prior to the switch to ART. Potential discrepancies between resistance test results obtained through RNA and proviral DNA methods and the consequent virological and clinical outcomes following ART adjustments were analyzed. Out of 1250 patients, 35 were eligible for inclusion in this study. The median length of known HIV infection was 27 years, and the median duration of ART was 22 years. Of the 35 participants, 16 had received all five ARV classes. Based on proviral DNA genotyping results, ART was simplified in 17 patients. At the last follow-up examination after changing therapy, 15 patients had HIV RNA <50 copies/mL (median 202 days, range 21-636). The mean number of pills per day decreased from eight to three, and the median intake frequency decreased from two to one time/day (ranges 1-2). Our study supports the use of proviral DNA genotyping as a safe strategy for switching to simplified ART regimens. However, the lack of extensive research on the advantages of proviral DNA genotyping makes it challenging to fully assess its benefits in terms of treatment selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic Rauschning
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department I of Internal Medicine, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
- Department Ib of Internal Medicine, Bundeswehrzentralkrankenhaus Koblenz, Rübenacher Straße 170, 56072 Koblenz, Germany
| | - Ira Ehren
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department I of Internal Medicine, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
| | - Eva Heger
- Institute of Virology, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Fürst-Pückler-Straße 56, 50935 Cologne, Germany
| | - Elena Knops
- Institute of Virology, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Fürst-Pückler-Straße 56, 50935 Cologne, Germany
| | - Gerd Fätkenheuer
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department I of Internal Medicine, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
| | - Isabelle Suárez
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department I of Internal Medicine, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Medical Faculty and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
- Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Clara Lehmann
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department I of Internal Medicine, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Medical Faculty and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
- Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
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In-Depth Characterization of Full-Length Archived Viral Genomes after Nine Years of Posttreatment HIV Control. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0326722. [PMID: 36692300 PMCID: PMC9927157 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03267-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
In the search for control of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection without antiretroviral therapy, posttreatment controllers (PTCs) are models of HIV remission. To better understand their mechanisms of control, we characterized the HIV blood reservoirs of 8 PTCs (median of 9.4 years after treatment interruption) in comparison with those of 13 natural HIV infection controllers (HICs) (median of 18 years of infection) and with those of individuals receiving efficient antiretroviral therapy initiated during either primary HIV infection (PHIs; n = 8) or chronic HIV infection (CHIs; n = 6). This characterization was performed with single-genome amplification and deep sequencing. The proviral diversity, which reflects the history of past viral replication, was lower in the PTCs, PHIs, and aviremic HICs than in the blipper HICs and CHIs. The proportions of intact and defective proviruses among the proviral pool in PTCs were not significantly different from those of other groups. When looking at the quantities of proviruses per million peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), they had similar amounts of intact proviruses as other groups but smaller amounts of defective proviruses than CHIs, suggesting a role of these forms in HIV pathogenesis. Two HICs but none of the PTCs harbored only proviruses with deletion in nef; these attenuated strains could contribute to viral control in these participants. We show, for the first time, the presence of intact proviruses and low viral diversity in PTCs long after treatment interruption, as well as the absence of evolution of the proviral quasispecies in subsequent samples. This reflects low residual replication over time. Further data are necessary to confirm these results. IMPORTANCE Most people living with HIV need antiretroviral therapy to control their infection and experience viral relapse in case of treatment interruption, because of viral reservoir (proviruses) persistence. Knowing that proviruses are very diverse and most of them are defective in treated individuals, we aimed to characterize the HIV blood reservoirs of posttreatment controllers (PTCs), rare models of drug-free remission, in comparison with spontaneous controllers and treated individuals. At a median time of 9 years after treatment interruption, which is unprecedented in the literature, we showed that the proportions and quantities of intact proviruses were similar between PTCs and other individuals. Unlike 2/7 spontaneous controllers who harbored only nef-deleted proviruses, which are attenuated strains, which could contribute to their control, no such case was observed in PTCs. Furthermore, PTCs displayed low viral genetic diversity and no evolution of their reservoirs, indicating very low residual replication, despite the presence of intact proviruses.
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Navarrete-Muñoz MA, Ramos R, Holguín Á, Cabello A, Górgolas M, Benito JM, Rallón N. High frequency of CD8 escape mutations in elite controllers as new obstacle for HIV cure. Virulence 2022; 13:1713-1719. [PMID: 36190143 PMCID: PMC9543107 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2022.2129353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulation of mutations in epitopes of cytolytic-T-lymphocytes immune response (CTL) in HIV-reservoir seems to be one of the reasons for shock-and-kill strategy failure. Ten non-controller patients on successful cART (TX) and seven elite controllers (EC) were included. HIV-Gag gene from purified resting memory CD4+ T-cells was sequenced by Next-Generation-Sequencing. HLA class-I alleles were typed to predict optimal HIV-Gag CTL epitopes. For each subject, the frequency of mutated epitopes in the HIV-Gag gene, the proportion of them considered as CTL-escape variants as well as their effect on antigen recognition by HLA were assessed. The proportion (%) of mutated HIV-Gag CTL epitopes in the reservoir was high and similar in EC and TX (86%[50-100] and 57%[48-82] respectively, p=0.315). Many of them were predicted to negatively impact antigen recognition. Moreover, the proportion of mutated epitopes considered to be CTL-escape variants was also similar in TX and EC (77%[49-92] vs. 50%[33-75] respectively, p=0.117). Thus, the most relevant finding of our study was the high and similar proportions of HIV-Gag CTL-escape mutations in the reservoir of both HIV-noncontroller patients with cART (TX) and patients with spontaneous HIV-control (EC). Our findings suggest that escape mutations of CTL-response may be another obstacle to eliminate the HIV reservoir and constitute a proof of concept that challenges HIV cure strategies focused on the reactivation of reservoirs. Due to the small sample size that could impact the robustness of the study, further studies with larger cohorts of elite controller patients are needed to confirm these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- María A Navarrete-Muñoz
- HIV and Viral Hepatitis Research Laboratory, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (IIS-FJD, UAM), Madrid, Spain.,Hospital Universitario Rey Juan Carlos, Móstoles, Spain
| | - Ricardo Ramos
- Unidad de Genómica, Scientific Park of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - África Holguín
- HIV-1 Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria(IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alfonso Cabello
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitario Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Górgolas
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitario Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain
| | - José M Benito
- HIV and Viral Hepatitis Research Laboratory, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (IIS-FJD, UAM), Madrid, Spain.,Hospital Universitario Rey Juan Carlos, Móstoles, Spain
| | - Norma Rallón
- HIV and Viral Hepatitis Research Laboratory, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (IIS-FJD, UAM), Madrid, Spain.,Hospital Universitario Rey Juan Carlos, Móstoles, Spain
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Nkone P, Loubser S, Quinn TC, Redd AD, Ismail A, Tiemessen CT, Mayaphi SH. Deep sequencing of the HIV-1 polymerase gene for characterisation of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte epitopes during early and chronic disease stages. Virol J 2022; 19:56. [PMID: 35346259 PMCID: PMC8959563 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-022-01772-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite multiple attempts, there is still no effective HIV-1 vaccine available. The HIV-1 polymerase (pol) gene is highly conserved and encodes cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes. The aim of the study was to characterise HIV-1 Pol CTL epitopes in mostly sample pairs obtained during early and chronic stages of infection. METHODS Illumina deep sequencing was performed for all samples while Sanger sequencing was only performed on baseline samples. Codons under immune selection pressure were assessed by computing nonsynonymous to synonymous mutation ratios using MEGA. Minority CTL epitope variants occurring at [Formula: see text] 5% were detected using low-frequency variant tool in CLC Genomics. Los Alamos HIV database was used for mapping mutations to known HIV-1 CTL epitopes. RESULTS Fifty-two participants were enrolled in the study. Their median age was 28 years (interquartile range: 24-32 years) and majority of participants (92.3%) were female. Illumina minority variant analysis identified a significantly higher number of CTL epitopes (n = 65) compared to epitopes (n = 8) identified through Sanger sequencing. Most of the identified epitopes mapped to reverse transcriptase (RT) and integrase (IN) regardless of sequencing method. There was a significantly higher proportion of minority variant epitopes in RT (n = 39, 60.0%) compared to IN (n = 17, 26.2%) and PR (n = 9, 13.8%), p = 0.002 and < 0.0001, respectively. However, no significant difference was observed between the proportion of minority variant epitopes in IN versus PR, p = 0.06. Some epitopes were detected in either early or chronic HIV-1 infection whereas others were detected in both stages. Different distribution patterns of minority variant epitopes were observed in sample pairs; with some increasing or decreasing over time, while others remained constant. Some of the identified epitopes have not been previously reported for HIV-1 subtype C. There were also variants that could not be mapped to reported CTL epitopes in the Los Alamos HIV database. CONCLUSION Deep sequencing revealed many Pol CTL epitopes, including some not previously reported for HIV-1 subtype C. The findings of this study support the inclusion of RT and IN epitopes in HIV-1 vaccine candidates as these proteins harbour many CTL epitopes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paballo Nkone
- Department of Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X323, Gezina, 0031, South Africa
| | - Shayne Loubser
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Thomas C Quinn
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Andrew D Redd
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Arshad Ismail
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Caroline T Tiemessen
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Simnikiwe H Mayaphi
- Department of Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X323, Gezina, 0031, South Africa. .,National Health Laboratory Service-Tshwane Academic Division (NHLS-TAD), Tshwane, South Africa.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW HIV-1 elite controllers encompass small populations of people infected with HIV-1 who can spontaneously control plasma viral loads below the limit of detection, in the absence of antiretroviral treatment. Antiviral immune responses are likely to contribute to such an impressive HIV-1 disease outcome. In this review, we discuss recent novel findings regarding antiviral innate and adaptive immune responses in elite controllers. RECENT FINDINGS Elite controllers maintain a pool of infected cells in which intact HIV-1 proviruses are more frequently integrated into noncoding regions of the host genome, likely conferring a state of deep latency. This atypical viral reservoir configuration is best explained by potent antiviral immune responses that can successfully eliminate virally infected cells in which proviruses are integrated into permissive chromatin. However, identifying the specific type and nature of this immune selection pressure represents a formidable challenge. Recent studies continue to support the role of HIV-1-specific CD8+ T cells as the main driver of elite immune control of HIV-1, however, increasing evidence suggests that their role is complemented by a fine-tuned interplay with innate immune cell subsets. Therefore, the combination of different immune effector mechanisms may shape antiviral immunity in elite controllers. SUMMARY Understanding the complex immune mechanisms responsible for natural, drug-free HIV-1 control represents a premier avenue to find and develop interventions for a cure of HIV-1 infection. Future single-cell assays designed to uncover the full genetic, epigenetic, transcriptional and functional complexity of antiviral immune responses in elite controllers may allow us to define correlates of antiviral immune protection in greater detail.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xu G. Yu
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA; 02139, USA
- Infectious Disease Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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Olusola BA, Olaleye DO, Odaibo GN. Non-synonymous Substitutions in HIV-1 GAG Are Frequent in Epitopes Outside the Functionally Conserved Regions and Associated With Subtype Differences. Front Microbiol 2021; 11:615721. [PMID: 33505382 PMCID: PMC7829476 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.615721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2019, 38 million people lived with HIV-1 infection resulting in 690,000 deaths. Over 50% of this infection and its associated deaths occurred in Sub-Saharan Africa. The West African region is a known hotspot of the HIV-1 epidemic. There is a need to develop an HIV-1 vaccine if the HIV epidemic would be effectively controlled. Few protective cytotoxic T Lymphocytes (CTL) epitopes within the HIV-1 GAG (HIV_gagconsv) have been previously identified to be functionally conserved among the HIV-1 M group. These epitopes are currently the focus of universal HIV-1 T cell-based vaccine studies. However, these epitopes' phenotypic and genetic properties have not been observed in natural settings for HIV-1 strains circulating in the West African region. This information is critical as the usefulness of universal HIV-1 vaccines in the West African region depends on these epitopes' occurrence in strains circulating in the area. This study describes non-synonymous substitutions within and without HIV_gagconsv genes isolated from 10 infected Nigerians at the early stages of HIV-1 infection. Furthermore, we analyzed these substitutions longitudinally in five infected individuals from the early stages of infection till after seroconversion. We identified three non-synonymous substitutions within HIV_gagconsv genes isolated from early HIV infected individuals. Fourteen and nineteen mutations outside the HIV_gagconsv were observed before and after seroconversion, respectively, while we found four mutations within the HIV_gagconsv. These substitutions include previously mapped CTL epitope immune escape mutants. CTL immune pressure likely leaves different footprints on HIV-1 GAG epitopes within and outside the HIV_gagconsv. This information is crucial for universal HIV-1 vaccine designs for use in the West African region.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Georgina N. Odaibo
- Department of Virology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
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Gomes STM, da Silva Graça Amoras E, Gomes ÉR, Queiroz MAF, Júnior ECS, de Vasconcelos Massafra JM, da Silva Lemos P, Júnior JLV, Ishak R, Vallinoto ACR. Immune escape mutations in HIV-1 controllers in the Brazilian Amazon region. BMC Infect Dis 2020; 20:546. [PMID: 32711474 PMCID: PMC7382849 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-020-05268-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection is characterized by high viral replication and a decrease in CD4+ T cells (CD4+TC), resulting in AIDS, which can lead to death. In elite controllers and viremia controllers, viral replication is naturally controlled, with maintenance of CD4+TC levels without the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART). METHODS The aim of the present study was to describe virological and immunological risk factors among HIV-1-infected individuals according to characteristics of progression to AIDS. The sample included 30 treatment-naive patients classified into three groups based on infection duration (> 6 years), CD4+TC count and viral load: (i) 2 elite controllers (ECs), (ii) 7 viremia controllers (VCs) and (iii) 21 nonviremia controllers (NVCs). Nested PCR was employed to amplify the virus genome, which was later sequenced using the Ion PGM platform for subtyping and analysis of immune escape mutations. RESULTS Viral samples were classified as HIV-1 subtypes B and F. Greater selection pressure on mutations was observed in the group of viremia controllers, with a higher frequency of immunological escape mutations in the genes investigated, including two new mutations in gag. The viral sequences of viremia controllers and nonviremia controllers did not differ significantly regarding the presence of immune escape mutations. CONCLUSION The results suggest that progression to AIDS is not dependent on a single variable but rather on a set of characteristics and pressures exerted by virus biology and interactions with immunogenetic host factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samara Tatielle Monteiro Gomes
- Laboratory of Virology, Biological Science Institute, Federal University of Pará (ICB/UFPA), Ananindeua, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents, Biological Science Institute, Federal University of Pará, Ananindeua, Brazil
| | | | - Érica Ribeiro Gomes
- Laboratory of Virology, Biological Science Institute, Federal University of Pará (ICB/UFPA), Ananindeua, Brazil
| | - Maria Alice Freitas Queiroz
- Laboratory of Virology, Biological Science Institute, Federal University of Pará (ICB/UFPA), Ananindeua, Brazil
| | - Edivaldo Costa Sousa Júnior
- Health Surveillance Department, Ministry of Health (IEC-SVS/MS), Evandro Chagas Institute, Ananindeua, Brazil
| | | | - Poliana da Silva Lemos
- Health Surveillance Department, Ministry of Health (IEC-SVS/MS), Evandro Chagas Institute, Ananindeua, Brazil
| | - João Lídio Vianez Júnior
- Health Surveillance Department, Ministry of Health (IEC-SVS/MS), Evandro Chagas Institute, Ananindeua, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Ishak
- Laboratory of Virology, Biological Science Institute, Federal University of Pará (ICB/UFPA), Ananindeua, Brazil
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Caetano DG, de Paula HHS, Bello G, Hoagland B, Villela LM, Grinsztejn B, Veloso VG, Morgado MG, Guimarães ML, Côrtes FH. HIV-1 elite controllers present a high frequency of activated regulatory T and Th17 cells. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0228745. [PMID: 32023301 PMCID: PMC7001932 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 infection is characterized by generalized deregulation of the immune system, resulting in increased chronic immune activation. However, some individuals called HIV controllers (HICs) present spontaneous control of viral replication and have a more preserved immune system. Among HICs, discordant results have been observed regarding immune activation and the frequency of different T cell subsets, including Treg and Th17 cells. We evaluated T cell immune activation, differentiation and regulatory profiles in two groups of HICs—elite controllers (ECs) and viremic controllers (VCs)—and compared them to those of cART-treated individuals (cART) and HIV-1-negative (HIV-neg) individuals. ECs demonstrated similar levels of activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in comparison to HIV-neg, while cART and VCs showed elevated T cell activation. CD4+ T cell subset analyses showed differences only for transitional memory T cell frequency between the EC and HIV-neg groups. However, VC individuals showed higher frequencies of terminally differentiated, naïve, and stem cell memory T cells and lower frequencies of transitional memory and central memory T cells compared to the HIV-neg group. Among CD8+ T cell subsets, ECs presented higher frequencies of stem cell memory T cells, while VCs presented higher frequencies of terminally differentiated T cells compared to the HIV-neg group. HICs showed lower frequencies of total Treg cells compared to the HIV-neg and cART groups. ECs also presented higher frequencies of activated and a lower frequency of resting Treg cells than the HIV-neg and cART groups. Furthermore, we observed a high frequency of Th17 cells in ECs and high Th17/Treg ratios in both HIC groups. Our data showed that ECs had low levels of activated T cells and a high frequency of activated Treg and Th17 cells, which could restrict chronic immune activation and be indicative of a preserved mucosal response in these individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diogo G. Caetano
- Laboratório de AIDS e Imunologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz–IOC, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Hury H. S. de Paula
- Laboratório de AIDS e Imunologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz–IOC, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gonzalo Bello
- Laboratório de AIDS e Imunologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz–IOC, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Brenda Hoagland
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas—INI, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Larissa M. Villela
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas—INI, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Grinsztejn
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas—INI, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Valdilea G. Veloso
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas—INI, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Mariza G. Morgado
- Laboratório de AIDS e Imunologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz–IOC, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Monick L. Guimarães
- Laboratório de AIDS e Imunologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz–IOC, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fernanda H. Côrtes
- Laboratório de AIDS e Imunologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz–IOC, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- * E-mail: ,
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Caetano DG, Côrtes FH, Bello G, de Azevedo SSD, Hoagland B, Villela LM, Grinsztejn B, Veloso VG, Guimarães ML, Morgado MG. A case report of HIV-1 superinfection in an HIV controller leading to loss of viremia control: a retrospective of 10 years of follow-up. BMC Infect Dis 2019; 19:588. [PMID: 31277590 PMCID: PMC6612226 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-019-4229-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background HIV controllers (HICs) are a rare group of HIV-1-infected individuals able to naturally control viral replication. Several studies have identified the occurrence of HIV dual infections in seropositive individuals leading to disease progression. In HICs, however, dual infections with divergent outcomes in pathogenesis have been described. Case presentation Here, we present a case report of a HIC diagnosed in late 1999 who displayed stable CD4+ T cell levels and low plasmatic viral load across 12 years of follow-up. In early 2013, the patient started to present an increase in viral load, reaching a peak of 10,000 copies/ml in early 2014, followed by an oscillation of viremia at moderate levels in the following years. The genetic diversity of env proviral quasispecies from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was studied by single genome amplification (SGA) at six timepoints across 2009–2017. Phylogenetic analyses of env sequences from 2009 and 2010 samples showed the presence of a single subtype B variant (called B1). Analyses of sequences from 2011 and after revealed an additional subtype B variant (called B2) and a subsequent dominance shift in the proviral quasispecies frequencies, with the B2 variant becoming the most frequent from 2014 onwards. Latent syphilis related to unprotected sexual intercourse was diagnosed a year before the first detection of B2, evidencing risk behavior and supporting the superinfection hypothesis. Immunologic analyses revealed an increase in CD8+ and CD4+ T cell immune activation following viremia increase and minor T cell subset alterations during follow-up. HIV-specific T cell responses remained low throughout the follow-up period. Conclusions Altogether, these results show that loss of viremia control in the HIC was associated with superinfection. These data alert to the negative consequences of reinfection on HIV pathogenesis, even in patients with a long history of viremia control and an absence of disease progression, reinforcing the need for continued use of adequate prevention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diogo Gama Caetano
- Laboratório de Aids e Imunologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC) -FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21045-900, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Heloise Côrtes
- Laboratório de Aids e Imunologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC) -FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21045-900, Brazil.
| | - Gonzalo Bello
- Laboratório de Aids e Imunologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC) -FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21045-900, Brazil
| | - Suwellen Sardinha Dias de Azevedo
- Laboratório de Aids e Imunologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC) -FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21045-900, Brazil
| | - Brenda Hoagland
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas (INI), Laboratório de Pesquisa clínica em DST e Aids, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Larissa Melo Villela
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas (INI), Laboratório de Pesquisa clínica em DST e Aids, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Grinsztejn
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas (INI), Laboratório de Pesquisa clínica em DST e Aids, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Valdiléa Gonçalves Veloso
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas (INI), Laboratório de Pesquisa clínica em DST e Aids, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Monick Lindenmeyer Guimarães
- Laboratório de Aids e Imunologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC) -FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21045-900, Brazil
| | - Mariza Gonçalves Morgado
- Laboratório de Aids e Imunologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC) -FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21045-900, Brazil
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