BackgroundThe emerging relationship between microRNAs (miRNA) and viral-control is a topic of interest in the field of HIV. Host-genome might play an important role in the control of viremia. The aim of this study was to assess the specific miRNA profile that could contribute to the control of HIV replication in Elite ControllersResultsAfter adequate normalization, expression profile of 286 human miRNAs (hsa-miR) was evaluated in phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated PBMCs from 29 individuals classified in 4 groups: 8 elite controllers (EC; viral load <50 cp/ml without treatment), 8 viremic progressors (VP; VL>5000 cp/ml without treatment), 8 patients under antiretroviral treatment (ART; VL<200 cp/ml) and 5 uninfected individuals (HIV-) through TaqMan Array Human microRNA Cards v3.0. A differential expression pattern consisting of 23 miRNAs became significantly different when comparing EC and VP. Profiling analysis segregated the population in two different blocks: while EC and HIV- clustered together in the same block (EC/HIV-_block 1), VP and ART individuals clustered together in a second block (VP/ART_block 2). Two inversely expressed miRNA patterns were determined within those two blocks: a set of 4 miRNAs (hsa-miR-221, -27a, -27b and -29b) was up-expressed in EC/HIV-_block and down-expressed in VP/ART_block while 19 miRNAs were down-expressed in block 1 and up-expressed in block 2. Differential miRNAs were successfully validated through individual RT-qPCR assays.ConclusionsProfile in EC resembled HIV- and differentially clusters with VP and ART. Therefore, differential clustering does not rely on undetectable viremia.

Background We analyzed humoral and cellular immune responses induced by SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in people living with HIV-1 (PLWH) with &lt; 200 CD4+ T-cells. Methods Prospective cohort study including 58 PLWH with CD4+ T-cell counts &lt;200 cells/mm3, 36 with CD4+ T-cell counts &gt;500, and 33 HIV-1-negative controls. Antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein (anti-S IgG) and the receptor-binding domain (anti-RBD IgG) were quantified before and four weeks after the first and the second dose of BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 (w8). Viral neutralization activity and T-cell responses were also determined. Results At w8, anti-S/anti-RBD IgG responses increased in all groups (P &lt; 0.0001). Median (IQR) S-IgG and RBD-IgG at w8 were 153.6 (26.4; 654.9) and 171.9 (61.8; 425.8) in the HIV &lt; 200 group compared to 245.6 (145; 824) and 555.8 (166.4; 1751) in the HIV &gt; 500 group, and 274.7 (193.7; 680.4) and 281.6 (181; 831.8) BAU/mL in controls (P &lt; 0.05). Neutralizing capacity and specific T-cell immune responses were absent or reduced in 33% of the HIV &lt; 200 group, compared with 3.7% in the HIV &gt; 500 (P = 0.0003). Conclusion One third of PLWH with CD4+ T-cell counts &lt;200 cells/mm3 show low anti-S/anti-RBD IgG levels, reduced in vitro neutralization activity against SARS-CoV-2 and no vaccine-induced T-cells after receiving COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.

Reconsent (n = 27) Received CCM (n = 26)** Withdrawn (with reasons) (n = 1) Voluntary withdrawal of consent Reconsent (n = 15) Received PPP (n = 14)** Withdrawn (with reasons) (n = 0)