HIV-1 co-receptor usage based on V3 loop sequence analysis: preferential suppression of CXCR4 virus post HAART?

Immunol Invest. 2011;40(6):597-613. doi: 10.3109/08820139.2011.569673. Epub 2011 Apr 25.

Abstract

Disease progression during human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection has been associated with a switch of viral coreceptor usage from CCR5 to CXCR4. The current study investigates the effect of anti retroviral therapy (ART) on the viral tropism in a group of patients based on the V3 loop sequence, in ART naïve patients prior to and 24 weeks after ART. Genomic DNA was extracted from the PBMCs of these patients, and the C2-V5 region of the HIV-1 env genes were cloned and sequenced. The coreceptor usage was predicated based on V3 loop amino acid sequences using Geno2pheno and PSSM programs. Our results indicate that following ART, the plasma viral loads of both CXCR4 and CCR5 viruses were significantly decreased. We observed a relatively higher ratio of R5 than X4 virus after 24 weeks of ART and both the positive charges and the net charges of the V3 regions were decreased significantly (p < 0.05) after ART. We conclude that ART significantly, reduced both X4 and R5 viruses with a preferential suppression of X4 virus. These data will help improve prognostic outcomes and help clinicians determine the course of treatment in patients who exhibit virologic failure while taking a CCR5 antagonist.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amino Acid Motifs / genetics
  • Amino Acid Sequence / genetics
  • Anti-HIV Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-HIV Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active*
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • DNA, Viral / chemistry
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / chemistry
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / genetics*
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV-1 / drug effects*
  • HIV-1 / genetics*
  • HIV-1 / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry
  • Peptide Fragments / genetics*
  • Receptors, CCR5 / metabolism
  • Receptors, CXCR4 / metabolism*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Static Electricity
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Viral Load / drug effects
  • Viral Tropism / drug effects*
  • Viral Tropism / genetics
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • CXCR4 protein, human
  • DNA, Viral
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120
  • HIV envelope protein gp120 (305-321)
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Receptors, CCR5
  • Receptors, CXCR4