Project description:HIV+ Elite and Viremic controllers (EC/VCs) are able to control virus infection, perhaps because of host genetic determinants. We identified 16% (21 of 131) EC/VCs with CD4+ T cells with resistance specific to R5-tropic HIV, reversed after introduction of CCR5. R5 resistance was not observed in macrophages and depended upon the method of T cell activation. CD4+ T cells of these EC/VCs had lower CCR2 and CCR5 mRNA levels, reduced CCR2 and CCR5 cell-surface expression, and decreased levels of secreted chemokines. T cells had no changes in chemokine receptor mRNA half-life but instead had lower levels of active transcription of CCR2 and CCR5, despite having more accessible chromatin by Assay for Transposase Accessible Chromatin with high-throughput sequencing (ATAC-seq). Other nearby genes were also down-regulated, over a region of ~500kb on chromosome 3p21. This same R5 resistance phenotype was observed in family members of an index VC, also associated with CCR2/CCR5 down-regulation, suggesting that the phenotype is heritable.
Project description:HIV+ Elite and Viremic controllers (EC/VCs) are able to control virus infection, perhaps because of host genetic determinants. We identified 16% (21 of 131) EC/VCs with CD4+ T cells with resistance specific to R5-tropic HIV, reversed after introduction of CCR5. R5 resistance was not observed in macrophages and depended upon the method of T cell activation. CD4+ T cells of these EC/VCs had lower CCR2 and CCR5 mRNA levels, reduced CCR2 and CCR5 cell-surface expression, and decreased levels of secreted chemokines. T cells had no changes in chemokine receptor mRNA half-life but instead had lower levels of active transcription of CCR2 and CCR5, despite having more accessible chromatin by Assay for Transposase Accessible Chromatin with high-throughput sequencing (ATAC-seq). Other nearby genes were also down-regulated, over a region of ~500kb on chromosome 3p21. This same R5 resistance phenotype was observed in family members of an index VC, also associated with CCR2/CCR5 down-regulation, suggesting that the phenotype is heritable.
Project description:HIV “controllers” are individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, type I (HIV) who maintain long-term control of viremia without antiviral therapy and who usually do not develop the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). In this study, we have used oligonucleotide expression arrays to characterize the mucosal immune responses of these subjects in relation to untreated HIV+ individuals with high viral loads and progressive disease (“non-controllers”). Recto-sigmoid biopsies were analyzed from 9 controllers and 11 non-controllers. All of the genes identified to be significantly different were more highly expressed in the non-controllers. Many of these genes are involved in immunity and defence. These results underscore the importance of the sustained inflammatory response that attends progressive HIV disease. Keywords: Recto-sigmoid biopsy profiles from HIV infected individuals
Project description:CCR5 is the main HIV co-receptor. We aimed to (1) compare CCR5 expression on immune cells between people living with HIV (PLHIV) using combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) and HIV-uninfected controls, (2) relate CCR5 expression to viral reservoir size and (3) assess detereminants of CCR5 expression. Percentages of CCR5 positive cells (%) and CCR5 mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) assessed by flow cytometry in monocytes and lymphocyte subsets were correlated to host factors, HIV-1 cell-associated (CA)-RNA and CA-DNA, plasma inflammation markers and metabolites.
Project description:HIV â??controllersâ?? are individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, type I (HIV) who maintain long-term control of viremia without antiviral therapy and who usually do not develop the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). In this study, we have used oligonucleotide expression arrays to characterize the mucosal immune responses of these subjects in relation to untreated HIV+ individuals with high viral loads and progressive disease (â??non-controllersâ??). Recto-sigmoid biopsies were analyzed from 9 controllers and 11 non-controllers. All of the genes identified to be significantly different were more highly expressed in the non-controllers. Many of these genes are involved in immunity and defence. These results underscore the importance of the sustained inflammatory response that attends progressive HIV disease. Keywords: Recto-sigmoid biopsy profiles from HIV infected individuals We analyzed a series of 20 HEEBO arrays on which were hybed RNA amplified from the recto-sigmoid biopsies of HIV infected individuals that either have progressive disease or can maintain long term control of viremia.
Project description:Elite controllers maintain HIV-1 viral loads below the limit of detection. The mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon are poorly understood. As microRNAs (miRNAs) are regulators of gene expression and some of them modulate HIV infection, we have studied the miRNA profile in plasma from HIV elite controllers and chronically infected individuals and compared against healthy donors. Several miRNAs correlate with CD4+ T cell count or with the known time of infection. No significant differences were observed between elite controllers and healthy donors; however, 16 miRNAs were different in the plasma of chronic infected versus healthy donors. In addition, levels of hsa-miR-29b-3p, hsa-miR-33a-5p and hsa-miR-146a-5p were higher in plasma from elite controllers than chronic infected and hsa-miR-29b-3p and hsa-miR-33a-5p overexpression significantly reduced the viral production in MT2 cells. Therefore, levels of circulating miRNAs might be of diagnostic and/or prognostic value for HIV infection. Additionally, hsa-miR-29b-3p and miR-33a-5p may be used in therapeutic strategies. An exploratory cross-sectional study of microRNA levels in EDTA plasma samples. Plasma samples were obtained from 24 subjects and were classified in 3 groups, 9 Elite Controllers (defined as individuals with plasma viral load (PVL) < 50 copies/ml, CD4 count >350/ml), 9 chronic HIV patients (CH) under anti-retroviral treatment and 6 healthy HIV negative donors (HD). This study was approved by the HuM-CM-)sped Foundation Ethics Committee and informed consent was obtained from all subjects.