Robust Gag-specific T cell responses characterize viremia control in HIV-2 infection

J Clin Invest. 2007 Oct;117(10):3067-74. doi: 10.1172/JCI32380.

Abstract

HIV-2 infection in the majority of infected subjects follows an attenuated disease course that distinguishes it from infection with HIV-1. Antigen-specific T cells are pivotal in the management of chronic viral infections but are not sufficient to control viral replication in HIV-1-positive subjects, and their function in HIV-2 infection is not fully established. In a community-based cohort of HIV-2 long-term nonprogressors in rural Guinea-Bissau, we performed what we believe is the first comprehensive analysis of HIV-2-specific immune responses. We demonstrate that Gag is the most immunogenic protein. The magnitude of the IFN-gamma immune response to the HIV-2 proteome was inversely correlated with HIV-2 viremia, and this relationship was specifically due to the targeting of Gag. Furthermore, patients with undetectable viremia had greater Gag-specific responses compared with patients with high viral replication. The most frequently recognized peptides clustered within a defined region of Gag, and responses to a single peptide in this region were associated with low viral burden. The consistent relationship between Gag-specific immune responses and viremia control suggests that T cell responses are vital in determining the superior outcome of HIV-2 infection. A better understanding of how HIV-2 infection is controlled may identify correlates of effective protective immunity essential for the design of HIV vaccines.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Female
  • Gene Products, gag / genetics
  • Gene Products, gag / immunology*
  • Gene Products, gag / metabolism
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • HIV Long-Term Survivors
  • HIV-2 / genetics
  • HIV-2 / immunology*
  • HIV-2 / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Proteome / immunology
  • Proteome / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Viremia / immunology*

Substances

  • Gene Products, gag
  • Proteome
  • Interferon-gamma