Cytotoxic-T-Cell Responses, Viral Load, and Disease Progression in Early Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infection

Abstract

In early HIV-1 infection, the induction of memory cytotoxic T lymphocytes, particularly those specific for Env, helps control viral replication and is associated with slower declines in CD4+ cell counts. Host cytolytic effector responses appear to delay the progression of HIV-1 disease.