Robust Gag-specific T cell responses characterize viremia control in HIV-2 infection

Leligdowicz, A. et al. (2007) Robust Gag-specific T cell responses characterize viremia control in HIV-2 infection. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 117(10), pp. 3067-3074. (doi: 10.1172/jci32380) (PMID:17823657) (PMCID:PMC1964515)

Abstract

HIV-2 infection in the majority of infected subjects follows an attenuated disease course that distinguishes it from infection with HIV-1. Antigen-specific T cells are pivotal in the management of chronic viral infections but are not sufficient to control viral replication in HIV-1–positive subjects, and their function in HIV-2 infection is not fully established. In a community-based cohort of HIV-2 long-term nonprogressors in rural Guinea-Bissau, we performed what we believe is the first comprehensive analysis of HIV-2–specific immune responses. We demonstrate that Gag is the most immunogenic protein. The magnitude of the IFN-γ immune response to the HIV-2 proteome was inversely correlated with HIV-2 viremia, and this relationship was specifically due to the targeting of Gag. Furthermore, patients with undetectable viremia had greater Gag-specific responses compared with patients with high viral replication. The most frequently recognized peptides clustered within a defined region of Gag, and responses to a single peptide in this region were associated with low viral burden. The consistent relationship between Gag-specific immune responses and viremia control suggests that T cell responses are vital in determining the superior outcome of HIV-2 infection. A better understanding of how HIV-2 infection is controlled may identify correlates of effective protective immunity essential for the design of HIV vaccines.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Cotten, Professor Matthew
• Authors: Leligdowicz, A., Yindom, L.-M., Onyango, C., Sarge-Njie, R., Alabi, A., Cotten, M., Vincent, T., da Costa, C., Aaby, P., Jaye, A., Dong, T., McMichael, A., Whittle, H., and Rowland-Jones, S.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Virus Research
• Journal Name: Journal of Clinical Investigation
• Publisher: Americal Society for Clinical Investigation
• ISSN: 0021-9738
• ISSN (Online): 1558-8238