HIV Type 1-Mediated Downregulation of HLA-B*57/B*5801 Proteins on Elite Suppressor CD4+ T Cells

Elite controllers or suppressors (ES) are HIV-1-infected patients who maintain viral loads of <50 copies/ml without antiretroviral therapy. While HLA-B*57 and B*5801 alleles are overrepresented in ES, many HLA-B*57/B*5801 patients become chronic progressors (CP). We show here that HIV-1 infection results in similar levels of downregulation of HLA-B*57 and HLA-B*5801 molecules on primary CD4(+) T cells from ES and CP. Thus, differences in HIV-1-mediated downregulation of HLA-B*57/B*5801 molecules do not distinguish ES from CP.