Inhibition of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) Replication by a Two-Amino-Acid Insertion in HIV-1 Vif from a Nonprogressing Mother and Child

We studied a 15-year-old girl, patient X, who has maintained consistently low plasma loads of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA, as well as normal and stable CD4(+) T-cell concentrations. She has presented no clinical manifestations of AIDS, despite having only received zidovudine monotherapy for a part of her life. Patient X's HIV-positive mother (patient Y) has also not progressed to AIDS and has never been treated with antiretroviral agents. HIV-1 isolated from patient X replicated poorly in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). In order to map the determinant of the poor growth of patient X's isolate, viral sequences from patient X were determined and examined for insertion or deletion mutations. These sequences contained a two-amino-acid insertion mutation in the Vif gene, which was also observed in uncultured PBMC acquired at different times. Furthermore, Vif sequences harbored by patient Y contained the identical mutation. These observations suggest that polymorphic HIV-1 was transmitted to patient X perinatally 15 years previously and has been maintained since that time. Recombinant HIV-1, engineered with Vif sequences from patient X, replicated in PBMC to levels approximately 20-fold lower than that of wild type. Removal of the insertion mutation from this recombinant restored replication efficiency to wild-type levels, while introduction of the insertion mutation into wild-type Vif sequences resulted in greatly decreased replication. Furthermore, Vif protein from patient X's HIV-1 was aberrantly cleaved, suggesting a mechanism for loss of Vif function. Since HIV-1 containing these sequences replicates poorly, the implication is that the two-amino-acid insertion mutation in Vif contributes significantly to the nonprogressor status of this mother and child. Further studies of these sequences might provide information regarding contributions of Vif structure and/or function to HIV-1 virulence

Chronic Kidney Disease Associated with Perinatal HIV infection in Children and Adolescents

BACKGROUND: This study describes the incidence, clinical and demographic characteristics, and spectrum of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in youths with perinatal HIV-1 infection. METHODS: Retrospective analysis between May 1993 and December 2006 of subjects with renal disease followed in the Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group 219/219C multicenter study examining long-term consequences of perinatal HIV infection. Diagnosis confirmation was made utilizing a questionnaire mailed to research sites. Participants with CKD of other etiology than HIV were excluded. Outcome measures were biopsy-diagnosed CKD and, in absence of biopsy, HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) using established clinical criteria. RESULTS: Questionnaires on 191 of 2,102 participants identified 27 cases of CKD: 14 biopsy-diagnosed and six clinical cases of HIVAN, and seven biopsy-diagnosed cases of immune complex-mediated kidney disease (lupus-like nephritis, three; IgA nephropathy, two; membranous nephropathy, two). Incidence rates for CKD associated with HIV in pre-HAART (1993–1997) and HAART (1998–2002, 2003–2006) eras were 0.43, 2.84 and 2.79 events per 1000 person years, respectively. In multivariable analysis, Black race and viral load ≥ 100,000 copies/ml (rate ratios 3.28 and 5.05, p ≤ 0.02) were associated with CKD. CONCLUSIONS: A variety of immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritides and HIVAN occurs in this population. Black race and uncontrolled viral replication are risk factors for CKD associated with HIV

Incidence of Persistent Renal Dysfunction in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Children

BACKGROUND: Survival of HIV-infected children continues to increase and the use of antiretrovirals (ARVs) is expanding; however there are few data regarding the incidence of renal dysfunction and associated risk factors among HIV-infected children and youth. METHODS: A total of 2102 children enrolled in Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group Study 219/219C, were followed and assessed prospectively for >30 months. Occurrence of clinical events and laboratory abnormalities were recorded using standardized criteria and forms. Therapeutic decisions were made by clinicians at each site. Occurrence of persistent renal laboratory abnormalities was the main outcome measure. RESULTS: Four hundred forty-six (22%) enrollees exhibited at least one persistent renal laboratory abnormality. Elevated serum creatinine (Cr) was more common than persistent proteinuria (15% vs. 8%). The incidence of new renal laboratory abnormalities was 3.7 events per 100 person-years with rates increasing between 1993 and 2005. Older age (≥6 years vs. <6 years), Hispanic ethnicity, and Black non-Hispanic race were associated with increased risk of renal dysfunction, but CDC clinical class and plasma HIV RNA levels were not. Subjects exposed to ARV regimens containing tenofovir and/or indinavir had approximately twice the risk of developing renal dysfunction compared with persons exposed to other ARVs. The risk of renal dysfunction was also elevated for other antivirals (hazard ratio = 5.4) and amphotericin B (hazard ratio = 28). CONCLUSIONS: Persistent renal function abnormalities occur frequently in HIV-infected children. Improved survival, Black race and Hispanic ethnicity, and exposure to tenofovir, indinavir, and other antimicrobial agents increase the risk for renal dysfunction. All HIV-infected children should be monitored closely for evidence of renal disease

Markers of Spontaneous Preterm Delivery in Women Living With HIV: Relationship With Protease Inhibitors and Vitamin D

Background: Women living with HIV (WLHIV) have increased risk of spontaneous preterm delivery (SPTD). We sought to identify plasma predictors of SPTD and their correlations with factors that increase the risk of SPTD, such as vitamin D deficiency and use of protease inhibitors. Design: Plasma was obtained from 103 WLHIV with SPTD (= 37 weeds) matched to cases 2:1 by race and gestational age at blood draw. TNF alpha, IFNy gamma, IL6, IL8, IL1 beta, IL18, IL17, granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF), MCP1, IP10, sIL2Ra, sCD14, vascular endothelial factor a, monocyte colony stimulation factor, GRO alpha, MMP9, IL10, TGF beta, sCTLA4, and eicosanoids were compared between cases adjusting for known SPTD risk factors. Results: Participants had similar demographic characteristics, but cases had higher plasma HIV RNA, lower CD4 cells, and more advanced HIV disease compared with controls. High sIL2Ra was associated with increased risk of SPTD. High sCD14, GCSF, PGF2 alpha, and 5-HEPE were marginally associated with increased risk of SPTD. Women who initiated protease inhibitors-containing antiretroviral treatment before or during the first trimester had higher levels of GCSF and 5-HEPE compared with women without such exposure before plasma collection. Vitamin D insufficiency was associated with higher inflammatory sCD14 and PGF2 alpha, and lower anti-inflammatory 5-HEPE. Conclusions: The best plasma predictor of SPTD in WLHIV was sIL2R alpha, a marker of T-cell activation. Markers of monocyte activation and eicosanoids were marginally increased in WLHIV and SPTD, suggesting that they may also play a role in the pathogenesis of this disorder