Review Article

APOBEC3 versus Retroviruses, Immunity versus Invasion: Clash of the Titans

Table 1

Clinical studies correlating A3 family members and HIV-1 pathogenesis.

A3 Family memberCorrelation reportedIdentification of cohortReference

A3BHomozygous deletion of gene associated with higher: rates of HIV infection after exposure, viral set point, and rate of disease progression4216 HIV+ patients pooled from 5 longitudinal cohorts: ALIVE, MACS, SFCC, HGDS and MHCS [73] (US-based studies)An et al. [74]

A3F and A3GLevel of detectable proviral hypermutations that exhibited A3F/A3G cytidine deaminase signatures associated with higher CD4+ cell count215 HIV+ female commercial sex workers plus 25 HIV+ women who were infected perinatally (Nairobi, Kenya)Land et al. [75]

A3F and A3GElevated expression of A3F and A3G in PBMCs associated with establishment of lower viral set point30 women from a well-established [76] cohort of female commercial sex workers (Dakar, Senegal)Ulenga et al. [77]

A3G186R polymorphism in African Americans associated with rapid progression to AIDS2430 HIV+ patients pooled from 5 longitudinal cohorts: ALIVE, MACS, SFCC, HGDS and MHCS [73] (US-based studies)An et al. [78]

A3GElevated expression of A3G in CD14+ cells associated with resistance to HIV-1 infection after exposure30 HESN individuals (Florence, Italy)Biasin et al. [79]

A3GElevated expression levels inversely associated with viral load in LTNPs6 uninfected volunteers; 17 HIV+ progressors; 8 HIV+ LTNPsJin et al. [80]

A3GC40693T polymorphism, located within intronic sequences, associated with increased risk of infection122 HIV-exposed individuals; 69 sero converted after exposure, 53 retained seronegative status (Montreal, Canada)Valcke et al. [73]

A3GHESN individuals expressed elevated levels of A3G when compared to healthy controls; elevated levels of A3G associated with higher CD4+ cell count in HIV+ patients26 healthy controls, 37 HESN individuals, 45 HIV+ patients (Mexico City, Mexico)Vázquez-Pérez et al. [81]

A3HHaplotype I associated with protection from HIV-1 infection70 serodiscordant couples (Florence, Italy)Cagliani et al. [59]

HESN: highly exposed seronegative; LTNP: long-term nonprogressors.