Association of HIV-1 Gag-Specific IgG Antibodies With Natural Control of HIV-1 Infection in Individuals Not Carrying HLA-B*57: 01 Is Only Observed in Viremic Controllers

Abstract

To expand upon our previous observation that HIV-1 Gag-specific IgG antibodies were highest in HIV controllers not carrying HLA-B*57:01, we analysed these antibodies in a larger cohort of viremic controllers (VCs) or elite controllers (ECs) considering carriage of ‘protective’ HLA-B alleles. HIV-1 p24-specific IgG1 and IgG2 antibodies were higher only in HLA-B*57:01⁻ VCs but there were no differences in ECs. Associations of HIV-1 gp140-specific IgG antibodies with HLA-B*57:01 carriage were inconsistent amongst VCs and ECs.

Figure 1

Based on plasma HIV-1 RNA levels, antiretroviral-naïve HIV-1-infected individuals were classified as either elite controllers (<75 copies/ml), viremic controllers (75–2000 copies/ml) or non-controllers (>10,000 copies/ml). Viremic and elite controllers were subgrouped based on possession of either HLA-B*57:01, other ‘protective’ HLA-B alleles (HLA-B*14:02, B*27:05, B*52:01, B*58:01, B*81:01) or no ‘protective’ HLA-B alleles. HIV non-controllers (NC) were included for comparison. Within viremic controllers, differences in IgG antibody responses against HIV-1 p24 (A–C) and HIV-1 gp140 (G, H) between subgroups are shown. Within elite controllers, differences in IgG antibody responses against HIV-1 p24 (D–F) and HIV-1 gp140 (I, J) between subgroups are shown. Differences between subgroups were compared using Mann-Whitney tests (* = p ≤ 0.05, ** = p < 0.01, *** = p <0.001, ns = p > 0.05).