A New Era for HIV-Specific T-Cell Responses?

Long-term nonprogressors (LTNP) are defined as individualsinfected with HIV for longer than 10 years and showingcurrent CD4+ T-cells > 500 mm3 in the absence of antiretroviraltherapy. They represent ∼5% of all chronicallyHIV-infected patients (Cao, et al. N Engl J Med. 1995;332:201-8).According to levels of plasma viremia, two groups of LTNPhave been defined: (i) elite controllers, who are those ableto maintain undetectable levels of viral replication (HIV-RNA< 50 copies/ml); and (ii) viremic controllers, who are thosewith low but detectable levels of viral replication (Blankson,et al. Immunity. 2008;29:845-7; Saksena, et al. AIDS Rev.2007;9:195-207).