Primary CXCR4 co-receptor use in acute HIV infection leads to rapid disease progression in the AE subtype.
This is a comparative study of HIV co-receptor usage in the early stages of HIV infection between two distinct patient groups, one with a low CD4 count (group 1), and the other with a high CD4 count (group 2). Group 1 progressed to a CD4 count below 200 cells/μL within 2 y, while group 2 had a CD4 count above 500 cells/μL within 2 y. Viral RNA was extracted from the plasma of these patients, and the C2-V5 region of the HIV-1 env genes were cloned and sequenced. The co-receptor usage was predicated based on V3 loop amino acid sequences using Geno2pheno and PSSM programs. Our results indicate that in acute HIV infection of rapid progressors (low CD4 count; group 1), the primary co-receptor usage is CXCR4, while in the high CD4 count group (group 2), the co-receptor usage is predominantly CCR5. One-year follow-up data from these patients showed no obvious change in HIV co-receptor usage in either group. Sequence analysis of patients from both study groups showed prevalence of the AE subtype, and therefore we can speculate that the CXCR4 co-receptor may be the primary HIV-1 co-receptor used in the HIV-1 AE subtype, and may be responsible for rapid HIV-1 disease progression in the MSM cohort.
Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing You-An Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Yanmei
Y
Jiao
Yingxue
Y
Song
Buxin
B
Kou
Rui
R
Wang
Zhiying
Z
Liu
Xiaojie
X
Huang
Dexi
D
Chen
Tong
T
Zhang
Hao
H
Wu
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003001:Cloning, Molecular / Q000379:methods; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019713:Receptors, CCR5 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D056189:Viral Tropism; D055815:Young Adult
D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; C059762:HIV envelope protein gp120 (305-321); D010446:Peptide Fragments; D012367:RNA, Viral; D019713:Receptors, CCR5; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4