Abstract

Here we address whether CCR5 or CXCR4 tropism of the predominant viral strain detected before or on combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) explains why some human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients who begin ART with advanced HIV disease retain low interferon (IFN)-gamma responses, despite recovery of CD4(+) T cell counts.

Tropism was determined by culture and confirmed by gp120 V3 loop sequence of multiple plasma samples in eight adult male patients who began treatment with <50 CD4(+) T cells/microL.

Four patients had mixed infections, one had only R5 HIV, and three had only X4 HIV. Of these, two carried CCR5Delta32.

Viral tropism was not related to CD4(+) T cell counts or HIV RNA levels.

When immunological responses were monitored over several years, IFN-gamma responses to cytomegalovirus were below the median value of uninfected controls and similar in patients with R5, X4, or mixed infection.

Interleukin-5 responses were low and plasma soluble CD30 levels were high at treatment onset, but resolved with control of HIV replication irrespective of HIV tropism.

Levels of LAG-3 (lymphocyte activation gene-3 protein) were elevated in patients with uncontrolled HIV replication. Hence the immunological milieu did not reflect HIV tropism.