Both CD31 super(+) and CD31 super(-) Naive CD4 super(+) T Cells Are Persistent HIV Type 1-Infected Reservoirs in Individuals Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 202; no. 11; pp. 1738 - 1748
• Main Authors: Wightman, Fiona, Solomon, Ajantha, Khoury, Gabriela, Green, Justin A, Gray, Lachlan, Gorry, Paul R, Ho, Yung Shwen, Saksena, Nitin K, Hoy, Jennifer, Crowe, Suzanne M, Cameron, Paul U, Lewin, Sharon R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.2010
• Subjects: Human immunodeficiency virus 1
• ISSN: 0022-1899
• DOI: 10.1086/656721

Background. Naive T cell recovery is critical for successful immune reconstitution after antiretroviral therapy (ART), but the relative contribution of CD31 super(+) and CD31 super(-) naive T cells to immune reconstitution and viral persistence is unknown. Methods. In a cross-sectional (n[inline image]=[inline image]94) and longitudinal (n[inline image]=[inline image]10) study of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients before and after ART, we examined the ratio of CD31 super(+) to CD31 super(-) naive CD4 super(+) 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 super(+) CD4 super(+) T cells than HIV-1-infected individuals naive to ART and uninfected control subjects (P[inline image]<[inline image].001 and.007, respectively). After 24 months of ART, the proportion of CD31 super(+) naive CD4 super(+) T cells did not change, the concentration of HIV-1 DNA in memory CD4 super(+) T cells significantly decreased over time (P[inline image]<[inline image].001), and there was no change in the concentration of HIV-1 DNA in CD31 super(+) or CD31 super(-) naive CD4 super(+) T cells (P[inline image]=[inline image].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 super(+) and CD31 super(-) naive CD4 super(+) T cells expand, and both subsets represent a stable, persistent reservoir of HIV-1.