Breadth of neutralizing antibody response to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 is affected by factors early in infection but does not influence disease progression

J Virol. 2009 Oct;83(19):10269-74. doi: 10.1128/JVI.01149-09. Epub 2009 Jul 29.

Abstract

The determinants of a broad neutralizing antibody (NAb) response and its effect on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) disease progression are not well defined, partly because most prior studies of a broad NAb response were cross-sectional. We examined correlates of NAb response breadth among 70 HIV-infected, antiretroviral-naïve Kenyan women from a longitudinal seroincident cohort. NAb response breadth was measured 5 years after infection against five subtype A viruses and one subtype B virus. Greater NAb response breadth was associated with a higher viral load set point and greater HIV-1 env diversity early in infection. However, greater NAb response breadth was not associated with a delayed time to a CD4(+) T-cell count of <200, antiretroviral therapy, or death. Thus, a broad NAb response results from a high level of antigenic stimulation early in infection, which likely accounts for prior observations that greater NAb response breadth is associated with a higher viral load later in infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Retroviral Agents / pharmacology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology
  • Cohort Studies
  • Disease Progression*
  • Female
  • Gene Products, env / genetics
  • Gene Products, gag / genetics
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis*
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV-1 / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Kenya
  • Neutralization Tests*
  • RNA, Viral / metabolism
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • Anti-Retroviral Agents
  • Gene Products, env
  • Gene Products, gag
  • RNA, Viral