Long-term persistence of transcriptionally active 'defective' HIV-1 proviruses: implications for persistent immune activation during antiretroviral therapy.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

People with HIV-1 (PWH) on effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) continue to exhibit chronic systemic inflammation, immune activation, and persistent elevations in markers of HIV-1 infection [including HIV-DNA, cell-associated HIV-RNA (CA HIV-RNA), and antibodies to HIV-1 proteins] despite prolonged suppression of plasma HIV-RNA levels less than 50 copies/ml. Here, we investigated the hypothesis that nonreplicating but transcriptionally and translationally competent 'defective' HIV-1 proviruses may be one of drivers of these phenomena.

Design

A combined cohort of 23 viremic and virologically suppressed individuals on ART were studied.

Methods

HIV-DNA, CA HIV-RNA, western blot score (measure of anti-HIV-1 antibodies as a surrogate for viral protein expressi

SUBMITTER: Singh K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10615727 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature