Long-term nonprogressor and elite controller patients who control viremia have a higher percentage of methylation in their HIV-1 proviral promoters than aviremic patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy

J Virol. 2012 Dec;86(23):13081-4. doi: 10.1128/JVI.01741-12. Epub 2012 Sep 12.

Abstract

Several factors are involved in the control of HIV transcription/replication, including epigenetic modifications at the promoter level. Analysis of the HIV long terminal repeat (LTR) methylation status in infected patients controlling viremia is scarce. Herein, we show a higher degree of DNA methylation in the 5'-LTR of long-term nonprogressor and elite controller (LTNP/EC) versus progressor patients and a positive correlation with time of infection, indicating a certain contribution of HIV LTR silencing in reducing the number of replicating viruses which may account for a delayed progression.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
  • DNA Methylation*
  • Epigenesis, Genetic / genetics*
  • HIV Infections / blood
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Long Terminal Repeat / genetics
  • HIV Long-Term Survivors
  • HIV-1 / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / metabolism
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / virology
  • Phylogeny
  • Proviruses / genetics
  • Viremia / genetics
  • Viremia / prevention & control*