Association of strong virus-specific CD4 T cell responses with efficient natural control of primary HIV-1 infection.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether there are differences in the virus-specific CD4 T cell response during primary HIV-1 infection in patients who naturally (without antiretroviral intervention) control viral replication with differing efficiencies.


METHODS
CD4 T cell responses to recombinant HIV proteins (Gag p24 and p55 and Env gp160) and an inactivated HIV-1 preparation were analysed using interferon-gamma ELISPOT assays (with CD8-depleted peripheral blood mononuclear cells) and by intracellular interferon-gamma staining and fluorescent-activated cell sorting.


RESULTS
Strong HIV-specific CD4 T cell responses were detected from the earliest time-points analysed in primary infection in patients who naturally established low persisting viral loads. By contrast, HIV-specific CD4 T cell responses were weaker (at or just below the limit of detection in our assays) at similar time-points in patients who went on to establish high persisting viral loads. Statistical analysis revealed a highly significant difference (P < 0.001) between the magnitudes of the Gag p24-specific response at the earliest time-point analysed in primary infection in the two sets of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Strong HIV-specific CD4 T cell responses are associated with efficient natural control of primary HIV-1 infection.
Gloster
Simone E
SE
Edward Jenner Institute for Vaccine Research, Compton, UK.
Newton
Philippa
P
Cornforth
David
D
Lifson
Jeffrey D
JD
Williams
Ian
I
Shaw
George M
GM
Borrow
Persephone
P
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D016274:Oncogene Protein p55(v-myc) / Q000494:pharmacology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019562:Viral Load; D014779:Virus Replication
D015415:Biomarkers; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D016274:Oncogene Protein p55(v-myc); C030340:elastin microfibril interface located protein; D007371:Interferon-gamma