title: HIV-specific cellular immune response is inversely correlated with disease progression as defined by decline of CD4+ T cells in relation to HIV RNA load.
abstract: The average time between infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and development of acquired immune deficiency syndrome is approximately 8 years. However, progression rates vary widely, depending on several determinants, including HIV-specific immunity, host genetic factors, and virulence of the infecting strain. In untreated HIV-infected patients with different progression rates, we examined HIV-specific T cell responses in combination with host genetic markers, such as chemokine/chemokine-receptor (CCR) polymorphisms and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotypes. HIV-specific CD4(+) T cell responses and, to a lesser extent, HIV-specific CD8(+) T cell responses were inversely correlated with progression rate. Slower progression was not related to polymorphisms in CCR genes, HLA genotype, or GB virus C coinfection. These data suggest that HIV-specific T cell responses are involved in protecting the host from disease progression.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Microbiology, Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. oxenius@micro.biol.ethz.ch.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oxenius
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hersberger
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schlaepfer
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Kundig
authors.forename: Jürg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Böni
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Joller
authors.forename: Rodney E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Flepp
authors.forename: Milos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Opravil
authors.forename: Roberto F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Speck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D018178:Flaviviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology; D029407:GB virus C / Q000276:immunology; D006678:HIV / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D012367:RNA, Viral; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine