Ultra-low level HIV p24 drives immune activation in antiretroviral therapy-treated people living with HIV.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite effective antiretroviral therapy (ART), people living with HIV (PLWH) often exhibit persistent immune activation, the mechanisms of which remain unclear. Increasing evidence suggests that residual low-level viremia and ongoing viral protein expression may persist even under long-term suppressive ART, underscoring the need for a better understanding of residual HIV persistence.

Methods

We therefore optimized a digital single-molecule array (Simoa®) technology to detect ultra-low levels of HIV p24 antigen in plasma, achieving femtogram sensitivity. In addition, we used flow cytometry to analyze HIV-specific T cell responses.

Results

Here we show that in a cohort of 108 participants with chronic HIV on long-term ART with HIV-1 RNA < 30 copies/mL for >4

SUBMITTER: Richter E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12672821 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature