X-linked Biological Response to HIV Sensing: the ANRS EP 53 Study (X LIBRIS)

April 21, 2026 updated by: ANRS, Emerging Infectious Diseases

Frequency and Functional Impact of the c.32A>T Genetic Polymorphism of TLR7 in Women Infected With HIV-1 : the ANRS EP53 Study

Short title :

X-linked biological response to HIV sensing: the ANRS EP 53 study.

Main outcome :

To demonstrate that HIV-infected women carry the TLR7 c.32A>T SNP at a higher frequency than uninfected women, arguing in favor of a role of impaired production of IFN-alpha by pDCs in the risk of becoming infected by HIV-1.

Secondary outcome :

To directly demonstrate at a single cell level that the TLR7 c.32A>T SNP is responsible for a reduce production of IFN-alpha by pDCs after activation of TLR7 by HIV-1 RNA.

Short abstract (public dissemination) :

Male and female display some differences in how their immune system responds to pathogens. This could be related to hormonal or genetic factors located on the X chromosome. This project aims at characterizing X-linked factors that can influence the innate immune response to HIV-1.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are key actors of innate immunity that produce high levels of interferon (IFN)-alpha after activation of their Toll-Like Receptors (TLR) by pathogens. A difference between men and women has recently been shown in the level of IFN-alpha produced by pDCs after TLR activation. The production of IFN-alpha in response to TLR7 activation is higher in the presence of estrogens. This could be responsible for gender differences in the level of plasma HIV-1 RNA, that is lower in female as compared to male by about 50%, and for the sex-based differences in the susceptibility to HIV infection. Besides the role of estrogens, X-linked genetic factors could also be involved in the sex-dependent differences in the TLR7-mediated responses of pDCs. TLR7 gene is located on the X chromosome. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the TLR7 gene, c.32A>T, have been associated with accelerated disease progression in male HIV patients, and was found over represented in female HIV as well as HCV patients, suggesting that the T allele is associated with a gender-dependent increase of susceptibility to RNA virus infections. A peripheral blood sample will be collected from HIV-infected women and healthy control to measure TLR-7 SNP frequency by PCR. IFN-alpha production from pDCs after HIV-1 RNA sensing by TLR7 will also be assessed.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

90

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • France
      • Toulouse, France
        • Purpan Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Caucasian Female
  2. HIV-1 infection (ELISA and western-blot tests)
  3. HIV-infection through the sexual route before 50 years-old
  4. Continuous antiretroviral therapy for more than 6 months
  5. Plasma HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/ml in the last 6 months
  6. Age >18-year old
  7. Health insurance
  8. Informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. HIV-infection through vertical or parenteral routes
  2. Chronic infectious disease, notably HCV infection (hepatitis C virus)
  3. Acute infectious disease
  4. Auto-immune disease
  5. Absence of social security (health insurance)
  6. Pregnant or breastfeeding woman
  7. Incapable adult

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Other: HIV-infected women
A peripheral blood sample will be collected from HIV-infected women to measure TLR-7 SNP frequency by PCR. IFN-alpha production from pDCs after HIV-1 RNA sensing by TLR7 will also be assessed.
Biological: A peripheral blood sample
A peripheral blood sample will be collected from HIV-infected subjects and healthy control to measure TLR-7 SNP frequency by PCR. IFN-alpha production from pDCs after HIV-1 RNA sensing by TLR7 will also be assessed
Other: Healthy control women
A peripheral blood sample will be collected from healthy women to measure TLR-7 SNP frequency by PCR. IFN-alpha production from pDCs after HIV-1 RNA sensing by TLR7 will also be assessed
Biological: A peripheral blood sample
A peripheral blood sample will be collected from HIV-infected subjects and healthy control to measure TLR-7 SNP frequency by PCR. IFN-alpha production from pDCs after HIV-1 RNA sensing by TLR7 will also be assessed

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Frequency (%) of subjects carrying the TRL7 c.32A>T SNP in HIV-infected and healthy women
Time Frame: day 1
arguing in favor of role of impaired production of IFN alpha by pDCs in the risk of becoming infected by HIV 1
day 1

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Frequency (%) of cells expressing the "A" and "T" alleles of TRL7 in interferon-alpha producing cells
Time Frame: day 1 and month 3
day 1 and month 3

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

ANRS, Emerging Infectious Diseases

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

November 1, 2013

Primary Completion (Actual)

June 1, 2015

Study Completion (Actual)

June 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 5, 2013

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 25, 2013

First Posted (Estimated)

September 30, 2013

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 23, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 21, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • ANRS EP 53 X LIBRIS
  • 2013-A00954-41 (Other Identifier: ANSM (Id RCB))

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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