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Updated: May 16, 2025
Chronic, Acute, and Reactivated HIV Infection in Humanized Immunodeficient Mouse Models
Published on: December 3, 2019
Low CD4 count was characterized in recent HIV CRF01_AE infection and it rapidly increased to reach a peak in the
Xue-Ying Zhang1, Li Wang2, Yue Jiang1
1Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
Insights
HIV subtype CRF01_AE rapidly lowers CD4 counts in recent infections. CD4 count recovery post-antiretroviral therapy (ART) varies by HIV subtype, with CRF01_AE showing a sharp increase within the first year.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Most people living with HIV (PLWH) in China have early diagnosis and treatment awareness.
- Subtype-specific virological and immunological features of recently infected PLWH remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate subtype-specific virological and immunological features in recently infected PLWH in China.
- To compare CD4 count and viral load (VL) dynamics among different HIV subtypes.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed CD4 count and VL data from 1508 ART-naïve PLWH using the HIV Database.
- Evaluated infection status in 402 newly diagnosed, ART-naïve men who have sex with men (MSM) cohort using LAg-Avidity EIA.
- Genotyped HIV subtypes (CRF01_AE, CRF07_BC, B) and compared CD4, CD8 counts, and VL trajectories during ART.
Main Results:
- CRF01_AE infections had lower baseline CD4 counts compared to CRF07_BC and subtype B.
- CRF01_AE was the dominant subtype (65.83%) in recently infected local PLWH.
- During ART, CRF01_AE showed rapid CD4 count increase within the first year, while CRF07_BC and subtype B showed slower recovery.
Conclusions:
- HIV subtype CRF01_AE significantly reduces CD4 counts during recent infection.
- CD4 count recovery post-ART is rapid for CRF01_AE, peaking within the first year.
- Identified critical time points for estimating CD4 count recovery based on HIV subtype.
Background:
Currently, most people living with HIV (PLWH) in China have a strong awareness of diagnosis and treatment in the early stage of HIV infection. Subtype-specific virological and immunological features of recently infected PLWH have not yet been elucidated.
Methods:
Data including CD4 count and viral load (VL) of 1508 anti-retroviral therapy (ART) -naïve PLWH were obtained from the HIV Database and comparatively analyzed among PLWH with different HIV subtypes. The infection status of 402 newly diagnosed and ART-naïve PLWH from a cohort of men who have sex with men (MSM) in China was evaluated using diagnosis records and LAg-Avidity EIA. Based on partial pol genes, HIV genotypes in 120 recent, 68 long-term, and 54 chronic infections were identified. The CD4 count, CD8 count, and VL, as well as trajectories of dynamic CD4 counts during ART of local PLWH with different HIV subtypes, were compared using non-parametric tests.
Results:
For the HIV database, the CD4 count in PLWH with CRF01_AE was lower than that in PLWH with CRF07_BC or subtype B. For the recently infected local PLWH, CRF01_AE was the dominant HIV subtype (65.83%), followed by CRF07_BC (18.33%) and subtype B (15.83%). Recent CRF01_AE infections showed a lower baseline CD4 count than CRF07_BC infections. During ART for recently infected PLWH, the CD4 count in the CRF01_AE group rapidly increased to reach a peak at the end of the first year post-ART, while the CD4 count in the CRF07_BC group increased slowly to reach a plateau at the end of the third year. The CD4 count in the subtype B group increased significantly to reach a plateau within the first two years and then its trajectory overlapped with that of the CRF07_BC group at the end of the third year post-ART.
Conclusions:
CRF01_AE rapidly reduced CD4 count during the recent HIV infection. The CD4 count of the recently infected individuals with CRF01_AE increased sharply and reached its highest level of recovery within the first year of ART initiation. This study revealed an important time point for estimating CD4 count recovery post-ART in individuals with different HIV subtypes.
