Predictors for Non- and Slow Progression in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Type 1 Infection: Low Viral RNA Copy Numbers in Serum and Maintenance of High HIV-1 p24-Specific but Not V3-Specific Antibody Levels

Abstract

To gain insight into determinants that define the duration of the asymptomatic period preceding AIDS, groups of long-term asymptomatic (LTA) person (> 7 years of follow-up) and slow and rapid progressors of human immunodeficiency virus infection were studied. LTAs had no clinical manifestations of AIDS or immunologic abnormalities in 7 years of follow-up. RNA copy numbers, gag- and env-specific, and neutralizing antibody titers in serum were determined 1 and 5 years after seroconversion or entry into the cohort. Early in infection, before immunologic markers or clinical manifestations allowed group discrimination, subjects who were later classified as LTAs had significantly less serum viral RNA than progressors. No significant increase in virus load was found in progressors, indicating that the initial load defines clinical outcome. In slow progressors, high virus load was associated with high p24-specific antibody titers, suggesting that delay of clinical manifestations of AIDS may be related to the presence of high levels of p24-specific but not V3-specific antibodies.

Passive Immunotherapy in Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Macaques Accelerates the Development of Neutralizing Antibodies

“…3). These levels are similar to those that have been described for HIV-1 in infected humans (15,25,34,55). The QC-PCR data were analyzed using the independent samples t tests.…”

“…Sustained suppression of plasma virus load is a key objective in therapies, as this is the strongest predictor of disease progression in lentivirus-infected humans (15,25) and macaques (20,53). Some evidence for viral suppression was obtained in prophylaxis studies in macaques that fell short of the desired end point.…”

Loss of antibody reactivity directed against the V3 domain of certain human immunodeficiency virus type 1 variants during disease progression

“…This may be one reason for the controversy over the role of V3 antibody in controlling HIV-1 in vivo (Girard et al, 1991, Montefiori et al, 1992. Also, studies correlating heterologous or autologous V3-antibody reactivity to disease progression have generated contradictory results (Hogervorst et al, 1995;Moore eta]., 1996; Kostrikis et al, 1996).…”

Avances recientes en HIV/SIDA: Patogénesis, historia natural y carga viral.

“…Esta carga viral es menor que la carga viral de 10 4.71 copias/mL de los individuos con enfermedad lentamente progresiva (SIDA desarrollado en un período mayor de 4 años), o la carga viral de 10 5.48 copias/mL de los individuos con enfermedad rápidamente progresiva (SIDA desarrollado en un período menor de 4 años). Aunque las cargas de 5 años de seguimiento, los valores continuaron siendo significativamente más altos en los grupos con progresión de la enfermedad (8).…”

“…Resultados de investigaciones recientes han mostrado que diariamente, y a través de todos los años que persiste la infección, hay una destrucción de partículas virales y de linfocitos CD4 cuya magnitud era previamente insospechada (1)(2)(3). Asimismo, existe un número creciente de estudios que indican que el principal factor determinante de la sobrevida de pacientes infectados con HIV es la cantidad de virus presente en la sangre y en el sistema linfático, cantidad denominada "carga viral" (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9). Algunos de estos estudios aún sugieren que es posible pronosticar, apenas unas cuantas semanas después de contraído la infección, el tiempo que transcurrirá antes de que un paciente desarrolle SIDA basándose en esta carga viral (10).…”