Rapid rebound of a preexisting CXCR4-tropic human immunodeficiency virus variant after allogeneic transplantation with CCR5 Δ32 homozygous stem cells

Abstract

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) of homozygous CCR5 δ32 stem cells once resulted in the cure of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We have recently reported a viral breakthrough in a similar setting. Here, we demonstrate that the rapid rebound after alloSCT was related to a highly replicative CXCR4-tropic HIV variant, which could already be detected before alloSCT.