Enhanced replicative capacity and pathogenicity of HIV-1 isolated from individuals infected with drug-resistant virus and declining CD4 T-cell counts

Abstract

Virologic failure on continuous antiretroviral therapy (ART) is associated with variable changes in CD4+ T-cell counts: peripheral CD4 + T-cell counts decrease in conjunction with a resurgence of plasma virus (nonresponders) or remain stable or continue to increase despite ongoing virus replication (discordant responders). This study found that HIV-1 isolated from nonresponders had significantly greater replicative capacity in activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) as well as an enhanced ability to induce apoptosis in both HIV-1-infected and HIV-1-uninfected CD4+ T cells compared with virus isolated from discordant responders. Enhanced replicative capacity in PBMCs of virus iso..