Gag p24 Is a Marker of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Expression in Tissues and Correlates With Immune Response

Abstract We demonstrate that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gag p24 protein is more readily detected in gut and lymph node tissues than in blood CD4+ T cells and correlates better with CD4 count during antiretroviral therapy (ART). Gut p24 levels also measurably decline with ART in natural contr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of infectious diseases 2021-11, Vol.224 (9), p.1593-1598
Main Authors: Wu, Guoxin, Zuck, Paul, Goh, Shih Lin, Milush, Jeffrey M, Vohra, Poonam, Wong, Joseph K, Somsouk, Ma, Yukl, Steven A, Shacklett, Barbara L, Chomont, Nicolas, Haase, Ashley T, Hatano, Hiroyu, Schacker, Timothy W, Deeks, Steven G, Hazuda, Daria J, Hunt, Peter W, Howell, Bonnie J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antiretroviral drugs
Antiretroviral therapy
Biomarkers - blood
Biopsy
CD14 antigen
CD4 antigen
CD4 Lymphocyte Count
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology
CD8 antigen
Female
gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus - metabolism
Gag protein
HIV
HIV Core Protein p24 - genetics
HIV Core Protein p24 - immunology
HIV Infections - drug therapy
HIV Infections - genetics
HIV Infections - immunology
HIV-1 - immunology
Human immunodeficiency virus
Humans
Immune clearance
Immune system
Lymph nodes
Lymphocyte Activation
Lymphocytes T
Major and Brief Reports
p24 Protein
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Summary:Abstract We demonstrate that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gag p24 protein is more readily detected in gut and lymph node tissues than in blood CD4+ T cells and correlates better with CD4 count during antiretroviral therapy (ART). Gut p24 levels also measurably decline with ART in natural controllers. During ART, gut p24 expression is more strongly associated both with HIV-specific CD8+ T-cell frequency and plasma soluble CD14 levels than gut HIV RNA expression. This study supports using gag p24 as a marker of HIV expression in HIV+ tissues to study effects of viral persistence and to monitor efficacy of treatment in HIV-based clearance studies. Continuous expression of HIV protein in lymphoid tissues despite prolonged viral suppression helps explain persistent immune activation and HIV-specific T-cell responses. Measuring HIV protein in tissues will likely be important for understanding mechanisms of persistence and evaluating future cure approaches.
ISSN:0022-1899
1537-6613
DOI:10.1093/infdis/jiab121