Dynamics of the blood plasma proteome during hyperacute HIV-1 infection

This study tracked changes in blood plasma proteins during the earliest stage of HIV‑1 infection—before the virus was detectable, shortly after infection, and about one month later—in 54 adults from several African countries. The researchers measured more than 1,200 proteins in 157 blood samples to understand how the body responds right after the virus enters the bloodstream.

They found six distinct patterns of protein changes over time, indicating a complex early response to infection. Many proteins involved in inflammation, immune regulation, and cell movement were significantly altered as the infection progressed.

Specific proteins were linked to important clinical outcomes:

• Lower levels of some proteins (like ZYX and SCGB1A1) and higher levels of others (such as LILRA3) were associated with acute symptoms soon after infection.
• Changes in proteins like NAPA and RAN, and decreased ITIH4, were linked with better control of virus levels.
• Higher levels of proteins such as HPN, PRKCB, and ITGB3 were associated with faster disease progression over time.

Overall, the study reveals that a wide range of blood proteins shift rapidly during the first weeks of HIV infection. These changes reflect early immune activity and may help identify biomarkers that predict whether someone will develop strong symptoms, control the virus effectively, or progress more quickly to immune decline. Better understanding of these protein patterns could inform future tools for early diagnosis or strategies to improve treatment outcomes.

Disclaimer: This lay summary was generated by AI and has not been approved by any of the authors yet.