Memory B Cells, the HLA-B*57 Allele and Natural Control of HIV Infection

Rob J Center

doi:10.1016/j.ebiom.2017.06.008

Abstract

Memory B Cells, the HLA-B*57 Allele and Natural Control of HIV Infection

Highlights

In a small number of HIV-1 infected individuals natural restriction of viremia to very low or undetectable levels is achieved without the use of combined antiretroviral therapy
The present study by Rouers and coworkers found that within elite controllers (EC) there was a much higher frequency of HIV Env-specific memory B cell responders compared to patients that have been rendered aviremic through the use of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) (Rouers et al, 2017). This was despite the fact that members of the EC cohort were infected a number of years previously and had presumably controlled viremia to very low levels for an extended period and had experienced minimal ongoing exposure to viral antigen
It was found that when EC were separated based on their HLA-B*57 allele status, HLAB*57+ individuals showed a positive correlation between the frequency of HIV Env-specific memory B cells and the breadth of neutralizing activity mediated by sera antibodies, whereas in HLA-B*57− individuals this correlation was not observed

Summary

Introduction

In a small number of HIV-1 infected individuals natural restriction of viremia to very low or undetectable levels is achieved without the use of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). The role of neutralizing antibodies in natural viral control is not well established.

Results

Conclusion