Association between low levels of HIV-1 DNA and HLA class I molecules in chronic HIV-1 infection

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 17; no. 3; p. e0265348
• Main Authors: Muccini, Camilla, Guffanti, Monica, Spagnuolo, Vincenzo, Cernuschi, Massimo, Galli, Laura, Bigoloni, Alba, Galli, Andrea, Poli, Andrea, Racca, Sara, Castagna, Antonella
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 15.03.2022; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Adult; AIDS; Analysis; Antigens; Antiretroviral agents; Antiretroviral drugs; Antiretroviral therapy; Biology and Life Sciences; Chronic infection; Confidence intervals; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Diagnosis; DNA; Genetic aspects; Genetic testing; Histocompatibility antigen HLA; Histocompatibility antigens; HIV; HIV (Viruses); HIV Infections - drug therapy; HIV Infections - genetics; HIV-1 - genetics; HLA histocompatibility antigens; HLA-A24 Antigen; HLA-B27 Antigen; HLA-B39 Antigen; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Immunology; Infections; Infectious diseases; Laboratories; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Medical diagnosis; Medicine and Health Sciences; Peripheral blood mononuclear cells; Research and Analysis Methods; Statistical analysis; Viral Load; Italy
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265348

HLA-B27 and -B57 were found in people with low levels of HIV-1 DNA, suggesting that HLA class I molecules may influence the size of HIV-1 reservoir. Aim of the study was to explore the association between HLA class I molecules and HIV-1 DNA in people with chronic HIV-1 infection. Post-hoc analysis of the APACHE trial, on adults with chronic HIV-1 infection, prolonged suppressive antiretroviral therapy and good immunological profile. HIV-1 DNA was quantified in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs); HLA-A, -B and -C were tested on genomic DNA. Crude odds ratios (OR) with their respective 95% Wald confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated by univariable logistic regression for HLAs with a p-value <0.10. We found 78 and 18 patients with HIV-1 DNA ≥100 copies/106PBMCs and with HIV-1 DNA <100 copies/106PBMCs, respectively. HLA-A24 was present in 21 (29.6%) participants among subjects with HIV-1 DNA ≥100 copies/106PBMCs and 1 (5.9%) among those with HIV-1 DNA <100 copies/106PBMCs (OR = 5.67, 95%CI = 0.79-46.03; p = 0.105); HLA-B39 was present in 1 (1.4%) with HIV-1 DNA ≥100 copies/106PBMCs and in 3 (17.6%) with HIV-1 DNA <100 copies/106PBMCs (OR = 13.71, 95%CI = 1.33-141.77; p = 0.028) and HLA-B55 in 3 (4.2%) and 3 (17.6%), respectively (OR = 4.43, 95%CI = 0.81-24.29; p = 0.087). All the three patients with HLA-B39 and HIV-1 DNA <100 copies/106PBMCs did not have HLA-A24. In patients with HIV-1 infection who maintained a good virological and immunological profile, HLA-B39 and -B55 may be associated with lower levels of HIV-1 DNA.