Long-Term Nonprogressor and Elite Controller Patients Who Control Viremia Have a Higher Percentage of Methylation in Their HIV-1 Proviral Promoters than Aviremic Patients Receiving Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

Abstract

Several factors are involved in the control of HIV transcription/replication, including epigenetic modifications at the promoter level. Analysis of the HIV long terminal repeat (LTR) methylation status in infected patients controlling viremia is scarce. Herein, we show a higher degree of DNA methylation in the 5′-LTR of long-term nonprogressor and elite controller (LTNP/EC) versus progressor patients and a positive correlation with time of infection, indicating a certain contribution of HIV LTR silencing in reducing the number of replicating viruses which may account for a delayed progression.