High levels of CD57+CD28- T-cells, low T-cell proliferation and preferential expansion of terminally differentiated CD4+ T-cells in HIV-elite controllers.

The study of clinical and demographic characteristics related to virus control and disease progression in patients who spontaneously control HIV vireamia (HIV-controllers) is of major interest. A particular cause of HIV control has not been found and the scenario could be partially explained by special homeostatic and immunological features. In this study, CD57+CD28- phenotype, T-cell activation and levels of proliferating T-cells in elite-controllers were studied in relation to spontaneous virus control. In HIV-controllers, 9% were AIDS-diagnosed and there was a high proportion of women. In elite-controllers, high T-cell CD57+CD28- phenotype and activation levels were found and, interestingly, there was a low proliferation of total and naïve T-cells and a high proliferation of the CD4+ T(EM)RA subset. Low T-cell proliferation and preferential expansion of terminally differentiated effector T-cell subsets could be an important factor for virus control in elite-controllers.