Both CD31(+) and CD31⁻ naive CD4(+) T cells are persistent HIV type 1-infected reservoirs in individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy.
BACKGROUND
Naive T cell recovery is critical for successful immune reconstitution after antiretroviral therapy (ART), but the relative contribution of CD31(+) and CD31⁻ naive T cells to immune reconstitution and viral persistence is unknown.


METHODS
In a cross-sectional (n = 94) and longitudinal (n = 10) study of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients before and after ART, we examined the ratio of CD31(+) to CD31⁻ naive CD4(+) T cells. In the longitudinal cohort we then quantified the concentration of HIV-1 DNA in each cell subset and performed single-genome amplification of virus from memory and naive T cells.


RESULTS
Patients receiving ART had a higher proportion of CD31(+) CD4(+) T cells than HIV-1-infected individuals naive to ART and uninfected control subjects (P < .001 and .007, respectively). After 24 months of ART, the proportion of CD31(+) naive CD4(+) T cells did not change, the concentration of HIV-1 DNA in memory CD4(+) T cells significantly decreased over time (P < .001), and there was no change in the concentration of HIV-1 DNA in CD31(+) or CD31⁻ naive CD4(+) T cells (P = .751 and .251, respectively). Single-genome amplification showed no evidence of virus compartmentalization in memory and naive T cell subsets before or after ART.


CONCLUSIONS
After ART, both CD31(+) and CD31⁻ naive CD4(+) T cells expand, and both subsets represent a stable, persistent reservoir of HIV-1.
Wightman
Fiona
F
Department of Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
Solomon
Ajantha
A
Khoury
Gabriela
G
Green
Justin A
JA
Gray
Lachlan
L
Gorry
Paul R
PR
Ho
Yung Shwen
YS
Saksena
Nitin K
NK
Hoy
Jennifer
J
Crowe
Suzanne M
SM
Cameron
Paul U
PU
Lewin
Sharon R
SR
D000328:Adult; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012846:Singapore; D014739:Victoria
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1