Prolonged control of replication-competent dual- tropic human immunodeficiency virus-1 following cessation of highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Maria Salgado, S. Alireza Rabi, Karen A. O'Connell, Robert W. Buckheit, Justin R. Bailey, Amina Chaudhry, Autumn R. Breaud, Mark A. Marzinke, William Clarke, Joseph B. Margolick, Robert F. Siliciano, Joel N. Blankson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

While initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) during primary HIV-1 infection occasionally results in transient control of viral replication after treatment interruption, the vast majority of patients eventually experience a rebound in plasma viremia. Here we report a case of a patient who was started on HAART during symptomatic primary infection and who has subsequently maintained viral loads of < 50 copies/mL for more than nine years after the cessation of treatment. This patient had a high baseline viral load and has maintained a relatively high frequency of latently infected CD4(+) T cells. In addition, he does not have any known protective HLA alleles. Thus it is unlikely that he was destined to become a natural elite controller or suppressor. The mechanism of control of viral replication is unclear; he is infected with a CCR5/CXCR4 dual-tropic virus that is fully replication-competent in vitro. In addition, his spouse, who transmitted the virus to him, developed AIDS. The patient's CD4(+) T cells are fully susceptible to HIV-1 infection, and he has low titers of neutralizing antibodies to heterologous and autologous HIV-1 isolates. Furthermore, his CD8(+) T cells do not have potent HIV suppressive activity. This report suggests that some patients may be capable of controlling pathogenic HIV-1 isolates for extended periods of time after the cessation of HAART through a mechanism that is distinct from the potent cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) mediated suppression that has been reported in many elite suppressors.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)97
Number of pages1
JournalRetrovirology
Volume8
DOIs
StatePublished - 2011

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Virology
  • Infectious Diseases

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