Interleukin 18 (IL-18) and IL-3 in Extracellular Vesicles: Biomarkers for Durable Elite Control of HIV-1

Abstract Plasma extracellular vesicle (EV)-associated cytokines were quantified in people with HIV (PWH) with different virological control status, including elite controllers (EC) who maintain persistent control (PC) or not (TC). Cytokine signatures and pathways were determined for each group. Median EV-associated cytokine levels were higher among PWH than HIV-uninfected. EC showed the highest levels of EV-associated cytokines among PWH with PC levels higher than TC levels. IL-18 levels best distinguished PWH from uninfected controls, and EC from ART-treated, and IL-3 distinguished PC from TC. The role of EV-cytokines in intercellular communication and endogenous control of HIV expression should be investigated further. Elite controllers (EC) had higher plasma extracellular vesicle (EV)-associated cytokines than other people with HIV, and persistent controllers (PC) had higher levels than transient controllers (TC). EV-associated IL-18 distinguished EC from ART treated; EV-associated IL-3 and TRAIL distinguished PC from TC.