Specific anti-gp41 antibodies predict HIV-1 disease progression

The immunodeficiency-defining AIDS results from a progressive decline of CD4 cell count. We previously showed that 3S, a unique motif of the HIV-1 gp41 envelop protein, is highly conserved in HIV-1 strains and induces expression of NKp44L, rendering CD4 cells sensitive to NK killing. Here we found from a well-characterized cohort of 244 untreated HIV-1 seroconverters that high levels of anti-3S antibodies significantly delay spontaneous disease progression in the first years after seroconversion; this effect was not mediated through baseline viral load or CD4. These results could have important implications both for clinical care and better understanding of pathogenicity.