raw_data_IFNa_induces_CCR5

The treatment for HIV is called antiretroviral therapy (ART), which involves taking a combination of HIV medicines every day. ART cannot cure HIV but allows individuals to live longer, healthier lives. Treatment interruption can lead to relapse, but immune processes involved in relapse are not well understood. Some people with HIV are so-called elite controllers, who have a natural immunity to the virus and cope with HIV infection without needing treatments. Here, we compared the immune responses between elite controllers and individuals whose HIV medicines were interrupted. We demonstrate that IFNα, a small protein with an important role in controlling white blood cells, is produced in excess at the beginning of HIV infection and at levels that persist, resulting in poor HIV control without therapy.