Antigen-specific production of RANTES, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)1 alpha, and MIP-1 beta in vitro is a correlate of reduced human immunodeficiency virus burden in vivo

RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T expressed and secreted), macropha ge inflammatory protein (MIP)-1 alpha, and MIP-1 beta are human immunodefic iency virus (HIV) suppressor factors by virtue of their ability to compete with HIV for access to cell surface R5. Their ability to block HIV infectio n in vitro is unequivocal; however, their role as HIV suppressor factors in vivo is not firmly established. We therefore conducted a study to test the hypothesis that production of these factors in vitro was a correlate of de creased virus burden in vivo. Moreover, we asked whether higher beta chemok ine production could be demonstrated with cells from people who are R5D32 h eterozygotes, compared with people who are R5 wild-type homozygotes. Our da ta support the thesis that RANTES, MIP-1 alpha, and MIP-1 beta production i s associated with decreased in vivo virus load. Moreover, enhanced producti on of these facto rs may be explained in part by the genetic background of the host.