SERPINC1 and infection: Throughout the infection period, defense mechanisms may have contributed to spontaneous control of HIV-1 in elite controllers, including the potent anticoagulant activity exerted by high antithrombin III (ATIII) expression (mean fold change of 3.4; p = 0.039 for elite controllers in an early stage of infection and 2.3; p = 0.049 in the chronic stage).