Selective Decay of Intact HIV-1 Proviral DNA on Antiretroviral Therapy

Rajesh T. Gandhi, Joshua C. Cyktor, Ronald J. Bosch, Hanna Mar, Gregory M. Laird, Albine Martin, Ann C. Collier, Sharon A. Riddler, Bernard J. Macatangay, Charles R. Rinaldo, Joseph J. Eron, Janet D. Siliciano, Deborah K. McMahon, John W. Mellors, Evelyn Hogg, Rebecca Leblanc, Christine Scello, David Palm, Monica Gandhi, Courtney FletcherAnthony Podany, Fran Aweeka, Lou Halvas, Joan Dragavon, Jeymohan Joseph, Rose Lagattuta, Leyi Lin, Susan Pederson, Kevin Robertson, Leah Rubin, Davey Smith, Serena Spudich, Athe Tsibris

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: HIV-1 proviruses persist in people on antiretroviral therapy (ART) but most are defective and do not constitute a replication-competent reservoir. The decay of infected cells carrying intact compared with defective HIV-1 proviruses has not been well defined in people on ART. Methods: We separately quantified intact and defective proviruses, residual plasma viremia, and markers of inflammation and activation in people on long-term ART. Results: Among 40 participants tested longitudinally from a median of 7.1 years to 12 years after ART initiation, intact provirus levels declined significantly over time (median half-life, 7.1 years; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.9-18), whereas defective provirus levels did not decrease. The median half-life of total HIV-1 DNA was 41.6 years (95% CI, 13.6-75). The proportion of all proviruses that were intact diminished over time on ART, from about 10% at the first on-ART time point to about 5% at the last. Intact provirus levels on ART correlated with total HIV-1 DNA and residual plasma viremia, but there was no evidence for associations between intact provirus levels and inflammation or immune activation. Conclusions: Cells containing intact, replication-competent proviruses are selectively lost during suppressive ART. Defining the mechanisms involved should inform strategies to accelerate HIV-1 reservoir depletion.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)225-233
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Infectious Diseases
Volume223
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 15 2021

Keywords

  • HIV proviruses
  • HIV reservoirs
  • immune activation
  • inflammation
  • residual viremia

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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