Combination of HIV-1-specific CD4 Th1 cell responses and IgG2 antibodies is the best predictor for persistence of long-term nonprogression.
BACKGROUND
Strong T cell and antibody responses to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), low virus production, and some genetic traits have been individually associated with nonprogression of HIV infection, but the best correlate with protection against disease progression remains unknown.


METHODS
We prospectively followed 66 untreated long-term nonprogressors and analyzed relationships between HIV-1-specific CD4 T helper (Th) 1 and CD8 T cell responses and HIV-1-specific antibodies, HIV-1 RNA and proviral DNA loads, host genes, and CD4 Th1 cell counts at entry into the study and 4 years later.


RESULTS
HIV-1 p24-specific CD4 Th1 cell proliferation, interferon (IFN)- gamma production, and IFN- gamma -producing cell frequencies at entry significantly and negatively correlated with HIV-1 RNA and proviral DNA loads and were independent of CD4 Th1 cell counts and host genes. HIV-1 Gag-specific IFN- gamma -producing CD8 T cell frequencies correlated with HIV-1 proviral DNA loads but not with RNA loads. Only high frequencies of HIV-1 p24-specific CD4 Th1 cells combined with HIV-1 gp41-specific IgG2 antibodies significantly predicted persistence of high CD4 Th1 cell counts.


CONCLUSIONS
HIV-1-specific CD4 Th1 responses combined with IgG2 antibodies and IFN- gamma -producing CD4 Th1 cells are better predictors of long-term nonprogression than are virus parameters, host genes, or HIV-1-specific CD4 Th1 or CD8 T cell proliferation.
Martinez
Valérie
V
Laboratoire d'Immunologie Cellulaire et Tissulaire, INSERM U543, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
Costagliola
Dominique
D
Bonduelle
Olivia
O
N'go
Nicole
N
Schnuriger
Aurélie
A
Théodorou
Ioannis
I
Clauvel
Jean-Pierre
JP
Sicard
Didier
D
Agut
Henri
H
Debré
Patrice
P
Rouzioux
Christine
C
Autran
Brigitte
B
D000328:Adult; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000235:genetics; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D019562:Viral Load
D015483:HIV Antibodies; D006680:HLA Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012367:RNA, Viral; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine