Specific anti-gp41 antibodies predict HIV-1 disease progression.
The immunodeficiency-defining AIDS results from a progressive decline of CD4 cell count. We previously showed that 3S, a unique motif of the HIV-1 gp41 envelop protein, is highly conserved in HIV-1 strains and induces expression of NKp44L, rendering CD4 cells sensitive to NK killing. Here we found from a well-characterized cohort of 244 untreated HIV-1 seroconverters that high levels of anti-3S antibodies significantly delay spontaneous disease progression in the first years after seroconversion; this effect was not mediated through baseline viral load or CD4. These results could have important implications both for clinical care and better understanding of pathogenicity.
INSERM Laboratory of Immunity and Infection, UMR-S 945, University Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France. vincent.vieillard@upmc.fr
Vincent
V
Vieillard
Joël
J
Crouzet
Faroudy
F
Boufassa
Alexis
A
Sennepin
Raphaël
R
Ho Tsong Fang
Patrice
P
Debré
Laurence
L
Meyer
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D018450:Disease Progression; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019562:Viral Load / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41