Limited sex-based differences in viral outcomes of ART-treated SIV/SHIV infection

Lentiviral infection of rhesus macaques represents a robust model for HIV persistence and a key system to evaluate HIV cure-directed interventions. How sex impacts viral reservoirs in macaques is unknown. We sought to uncover potential sex differences in viral measurements during antiretroviral therapy (ART) using data from 19 studies conducted at Emory Primate Center. Sex differences in total and intact SIV/SHIV-DNA levels in blood and lymph node CD4+ T-cells were not observed, although subgroup analysis of SIV-infected adult macaques revealed higher reservoir levels in females. Age (adult versus infant) was a significant effect for all viral outcomes studied.