Relative dominance of Gag p24-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes is associated with human immunodeficiency virus control.
Conflicting data on the role of total virus- and protein-specific cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses in the control of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease progression exist. We present data generated from a Peruvian cohort of untreated, clade B-infected subjects, demonstrating that the proportion of Gag-specific, and in particular p24-reactive, CTL responses among the total virus-specific CTL activity is associated with individuals' CD4 counts and viral loads. Analyses in a second cohort in the United States confirm these findings and point towards a dominant role of Gag-specific immunity in effective control of HIV infection, providing important guidance for HIV vaccine development.
Zuñiga
Rosario
R
Asociación Civil IMPACTA Salud y Educación, Lima, Peru.
Lucchetti
Aldo
A
Galvan
Patricia
P
Sanchez
Shyla
S
Sanchez
Carmen
C
Hernandez
Ana
A
Sanchez
Hugo
H
Frahm
Nicole
N
Linde
Caitlyn H
CH
Hewitt
Hannah S
HS
Hildebrand
William
W
Altfeld
Marcus
M
Allen
Todd M
TM
Walker
Bruce D
BD
Korber
Bette T
BT
Leitner
Thomas
T
Sanchez
Jorge
J
Brander
Christian
C
D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology*; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D019562:Viral Load
D016655:HIV Core Protein p24