Innate immune imprints shape HIV-1 reservoir cell persistence during long-term antiretroviral therapy.

HLA-C2 allotypes and KIR2DL1+ NK cells are linked to lower frequencies of intact HIV-1 proviruses during long-term antiretroviral therapy.

• Why it matters: Understanding immune factors that target HIV-1 reservoir cells is crucial for developing cure strategies, especially since host immune responses during suppressive therapy are poorly characterized.
• What they did: Analyzing over 6,000 proviral DNA amplicons from 104 individuals on long-term therapy, the study examined host genetic markers, NK cell populations, and viral variants to identify immune correlates of reservoir size.
• The result: Findings suggest that HLA-C2 allotypes and KIR2DL1+ NK cells, particularly those expressing NKG2C, are associated with smaller reservoirs, indicating innate immunity's potential role in reducing HIV persistence.