Consistent subtype-specific anti-HIV type 1 T lymphocyte responses in Indian subjects recently infected with HIV type 1
Thakar, M.R.; Patke, D.; Lakhashe, S.K.; Bhonge, L.; Kulkarni, S.V.; Tripathy, S.P.; Gupte, N.; Brookmeyer, R.; Quinn, T.C.; Paranjape, R.S.; Bollinger, R.C.
Aids Research and Human Retroviruses 18(18): 1389-1393
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0889-2229 PMID: 12487810 DOI: 10.1089/088922202320935465Document Number: 259701
Anti-HIV-1-specific T cell responses in early HIV-1 infection have been found to be important in deciding the course of disease progression. But there are few data concerning nonsubtype B HIV infection. HIV-1 subtype C is the most prevalent subtype in India. HIV-1 Gag-specific T cell responses in 12 Indian subjects with recent HIV-1 infection were characterized by an ELISpot assay at two consecutive visits and their correlation with plasma viral load and CD4(+) T lymphocyte counts was studied. Ten of the 12 subjects demonstrated T cell responses to either one or both Gag B and C peptides, on at least one visit. Five of 10 responders showed a consistent response (response at both visits): 4 exhibited a Gag C-specific consistent response and 1 showed a consistent response to Gag B. The remaining five patients, showing response at only one of the two visits, were considered inconsistent responders. None of the individuals showed a consistent response to both B and C Gag peptides. Marginally significant correlation was observed between consistency of the response and lower plasma viral load (p = 0.062). The subtype-specific Gag C response was also found to be correlated with lower viral load as compared with the response to Gag B (r = -0.336, p = 0.054 for subtype C and r = -0.234, p = 0.13 for subtype B). The data suggest that the patients exhibiting consistent subtype-specific responses to HIV-1 Gag might have better control of viral replication in early HIV infection.