Highly active antiretroviral therapy normalizes the function of progenitor cells in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients.
CD34 cells from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons have been described to be impaired in function. The effect of highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) on the function of CD34 cells in HIV-infected patients was examined. Numbers and function of CD34 cells from 11 HIV-infected patients were determined prior to HAART and after 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks of therapy. The mean number of colony-forming units (cells) per milliliter (cfu/mL) was 15.0 prior to HAART vs. 109.8 in healthy controls (P<.001). During HAART, the number of cfu/mL increased to 100.3 (P<.001). This increase in cfu/mL eliminated the differences between HIV-infected patients and controls. Significant increases in numbers of CD34 cells were not detected. Of importance, the cloning efficiency of CD34 cells increased from 1.7% prior to therapy to a peak at 18.7% (P=.003). In conclusion, HAART normalized CD34 cell function in HIV-infected patients and thus might allow de novo production of T lymphocytes from progenitor cells.
Dam Nielsen
S
S
Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital, Frederiksberg, Denmark.
Kjaer Ersboll
A
A
Mathiesen
L
L
Nielsen
J O
JO
Hansen
J E
JE
D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D019562:Viral Load; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000627:therapeutic use
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D015215:Zidovudine; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens