Dynamics of provirus load and lymphocyte subsets after interleukin 2 treatment in HIV-infected patients.
The association of antiretroviral agents plus interleukin 2 (IL-2) represents an efficient approach to the treatment of HIV+ subjects. While the effects of IL-2 on the immune system have been investigated, little is known concerning its impact on HIV dynamics. Two antiretroviral drugs control HIV viremia, but have minimal effects on the proviral load, a predictor of disease progression and response to therapy. The aim of this study was to define the effect of rIL-2 on HIV proviral copy numbers and its relationship to changes in CD4+ and CD8+ subsets. Twelve HIV+ patients with CD4 cell counts between 200 and 500 cells/mm3 were treated with six cycles of subcutaneous rIL-2, in combination with zidovudine and didanosine. This regimen resulted in a rapid and durable decrease in proviral load in the peripheral blood, in an increase in CD8+ lymphocytes, and in the emergence of a CD4+CD45RA+ T subset. These results demonstrate that the rationale for IL-2 administration to HIV+ patients may depend not only on its effects on the immune system, but also on the reduction of the number of infected cells, reinforcing the notion that IL-2 can have a favorable impact on the natural history of HIV infection.
Department of Microbiology-Immunology and Virology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, IRCCS, Aviano, Italy.
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S
Zanussi
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C
Simonelli
M T
MT
Bortolin
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M
D'Andrea
M
M
Comar
U
U
Tirelli
M
M
Giacca
P
P
De Paoli
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D016049:Didanosine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011533:Proviruses / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects*; D019562:Viral Load; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000627:therapeutic use
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015215:Zidovudine; D016049:Didanosine