After 18 months of antiretroviral therapy, total HIV DNA decreases more pronouncedly in patients infected by CRF01_AE than in those infected by subtype B and CRF07_BC

Abstract

Whether the amount of HIV DNA is associated with the subtype of HIV-1 after antiretroviral therapy (ART) has not been reported. In the present study, the amount of HIV DNA and RNA and CD4+T counts in blood and semen prior to and after 18 months of ART were compared in 48 patients infected by CRF01_AE, subtype B or CRF07_BC of HIV-1. Viral RNA was suppressed and CD4 cell count recovery achieved in all patients. The level of HIV DNA were similar before ART; however, patients with CRF01_AE had less HIV DNA after ART than those with subtype B and CRF07_BC infection. According to prediction of co-receptor usage by Geno2Pheno and PSSM in combination, more than 35.6% of clones for CRF01_AE were predicted as CXCR4-using before ART, whereas less than 6% of those for subtype B and CRF07_BC were predicted as CXCR4-using. After 18 months of ART, no CXCR4-using clones were predicted in any of the subtypes. Despite more HIV RNA and fewer CD4 + T cells in patients with CRF01_AE before therapy, no significant differences (P > 0.05) in viral RNA or CD4 cell counts were observed between the subtypes after 18 months of ART. Thus, 18 months of antiretroviral therapy was more efficient in patients with CRF01_AE. Considering that successful ART dramatically reduces the viral load in both blood and semen, risks of sexual transmission of HIV were reduced, contributing to prevention of rapid spread of HIV among men who have sex with men in the region.

HIV-1 CRF01_AE subtype and HIV-1 DNA level among patients with chronic HIV-1 infection: a correlation study

“…In our study, although the HIV-1 DNA level in both groups declined significantly after ART (Figure 1c&1d), the CRF01_AE subtype exhibited a higher level at baseline, which may explain the higher DNA levels observed at week 96 (Figure 1d). In contrast, Lu performed a study of 48 patients in Guangxi province (China), followed for 18 months and found the decline in total HIV-1 DNA was significantly faster among patients with the CRF01_AE subtype than in those with subtypes B and CRF07_BC [25]. The ratio of CXCR4-usage for clones from CRF01_AE in our study was higher than that of non-CRF01_AE subtypes (Table S1), which is similar to Lu's study.…”

“…The ratio of CXCR4-usage for clones from CRF01_AE in our study was higher than that of non-CRF01_AE subtypes (Table S1), which is similar to Lu's study. As to the reason why HIV-1 DNA level of 96 weeks of ART in CRF01_AE subtype is in contrast with those of Lu et al [25], other parameters such as the difference of baseline characteristic or HLA typing might also contribute to the discrepancy.…”

HIV-1 CRF01_AE subtype and HIV-1 DNA level among patients with chronic HIV-1 infection: a correlation study

“…The ratio of CXCR4-usage for clones from CRF01_AE in our study was higher than that of non-CRF01_AE subtypes (Additional file 1: Table S1), which is similar to Lu's study. As to the reason why HIV-1 DNA level of 96 weeks of ART in CRF01_AE subtype is in contrast with those of Lu et al [25], other parameters such as the difference of baseline characteristic or HLA typing might also contribute to the discrepancy.…”

“…1d). In contrast, Lu performed a study of 48 patients in Guangxi province (China), followed for 18 months and found the decline in total HIV-1 DNA was significantly faster among patients with the CRF01_ AE subtype than in those with subtypes B and CRF07_ BC [25]. The ratio of CXCR4-usage for clones from CRF01_AE in our study was higher than that of non-CRF01_AE subtypes (Additional file 1: Table S1), which is similar to Lu's study.…”

“…Previous studies mainly focused on the impact of viral subtype on the level of HIV-1 RNA and CD4 + T cell count, but rarely on HIV-1 DNA [7,8]. To our knowledge, this is the first national multicentre prospective cohort study in the world to assess the relationship of subtype and HIV-1 DNA reservoir after ART [25].…”