HIGH-LEVELS OF ANTI-HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TYPE-1 (HIV-1) MEMORY CYTOTOXIC T-LYMPHOCYTE ACTIVITY AND LOW VIRAL LOAD ARE ASSOCIATED WITH LACK OF DISEASE IN HIV-1-INFECTED LONG-TERM NONPROGRESSORS

Lack of disease in long-term nonprogressors with human immuodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection was strongly associated with very low copy numbers of HIV-1 DNA and RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cell s and plasma and the presence of high levels of anti-HIV-1 CD8(+) memo ry cytotoxic T lymphocytes specific for Gag, Pol, and Env, compared wi th level present in intermediate and advanced progressors. CD8(+) memo ry cytotoxic T lymphocytes may have an important role in controlling H IV-1 replication and preventing disease in long-term nonprogressors.