Role of HLA-B*58:01-restricted CD8+ T cells in HIV-1 subtype AE infection

Abstract HLA-B*58:01 and HLA-B*57 are protective alleles against HIV-1 subtype B or C infection whereas these HLA alleles have not been reported as protective in HIV-1 subtype AE infection. Although HLA-B*58:01-restricted and HLA-B*57-restricted HIV-1-specific CD8+ T cells have been thoroughly analyzed in subtype B or C infection, they have only been partially analyzed in subtype AE infection. We identified six HLA-B*58:01-restricted subtype AE epitopes in Vietnamese individuals infected with subtype AE. HLA-B*58:01-restricted T-cell responses to Gag epitopes, which may control disease progression in HLA-B*58:01+ and HLA-B*57+ individuals infected with subtype B or C, were not protective in subtype AE infection. These findings suggest that the loss of HLA-B*58:01-restricted T cells specific for some Gag epitopes and/or their reduced ability may account for the lack of protective effects conferred by HLA-B*58:01 in subtype AE infection.