Direct relationship between virus load and systemic immune activation in HIV-2 infection.
Immune activation is a hallmark of disease progression in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 (HIV-1) and HIV type 2 (HIV-2) infection. However, the relationship between viremia and systemic immune activation is unclear. We assessed the relationship between HIV-2 plasma virus load and immune system activation in a cross-sectional study in a community cohort of HIV-1-positive, HIV-2-positive, and HIV-negative patients, in which many HIV-2-positive patients had nonprogressing infection. HLA-DR and CD38 expression on CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells was measured, as were plasma beta(2)-microglobulin levels. These markers were related to clinical (virus load and CD4(+) cell count) and immunological (HIV-2-specific interferon gamma secretion) correlates of delayed disease progression. A consistent positive correlation was identified between the level of HIV-2 viremia and immune activation. We propose that increasing virus load may contribute to systemic immune activation in HIV-2 infection.
Leligdowicz
Aleksandra
A
Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Medical Research Council Human Immunology Unit, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK. aleksandra.leligdowicz@mail.mcgill.ca
Feldmann
Jérôme
J
Jaye
Assan
A
Cotten
Matthew
M
Dong
Tao
T
McMichael
Andrew
A
Whittle
Hilton
H
Rowland-Jones
Sarah
S
D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000276:immunology*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D019562:Viral Load; D014766:Viremia / Q000276:immunology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1