HIV long-term nonprogressors (LTNPs) maintaining high CD4+ T-cell counts without antiretroviral therapy (ART) are divided into elite controllers (ECs) with undetectable and viremic controllers (VCs) with low viral loads. Little is known about the long-term changes of T-cell subsets and inflammation patterns in ECs versus VCs. The aim of the study was to explore the long-term evolution of CD4+ T-cell levels in LTNPs and to analyze cytokine profiles in ECs versus VCs. Nineteen ECs and 15 VCs were enrolled from the natural virus controller cohort (NaViC). T-cell counts were monitored over years, the mean annual change was calculated, and plasma concentrations of 25 cytokines were evaluated using a multiplex bead array. While absolute numbers of T cells did not differ between ECs and VCs over time, we observed a significant decrease of CD4+ T-cell percentages in VCs, but not in ECs (median [interquartile range]: ECs: 37% [28–41] vs. VCs: 29% [25–34]; p = .02). ECs had lower levels of macrophage inflammatory protein-1β (MIP-1β, p = .003), interferon γ-induced protein-10 (IP-10, p = .03), and monokine induced by interferon–γ (MIG, p = .02). CD4+ T-cell percentages inversely correlated with MIP 1-β (r = −0.42, p = .017) and IP-10 (r = −0.77, p < .0001). A subtle decline of CD4+ T-cell percentages could be observed in VCs, but not in ECs, which was associated with higher plasma levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Hence, even low levels of HIV replication might go along with a progressive decline in CD4+ T-cell counts in LTNPs.
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