title: Immune function and phenotype before and after highly active antiretroviral therapy.
abstract: Immune functions represented by equal CD4 counts before and after highly active antiretroviral therapy (i.e., pre- and post-HAART) in the same HIV-infected patients, were examined. Twelve HIV-infected patients were included. Patients had equal CD4 counts pre- and post-HAART and were studied on average 30 months pre-HAART and 17 months post-HAART. Post-HAART, CD8+ T cells expressed greater amounts of CD28 (p < .02), smaller amounts of CD38 (p < .02), and a reduced proportion of CD4+CD28+ T cells expressed CD38+ (p < .01). Proliferation increased (p < 10) in lymphocyte cell cultures stimulated with pokeweed mitogens or Candida, and was correlated to expression of CD28 on T cells (p < .02). The proportion of CD3-CD16-CD56+ natural killer (NK) cells increased (p < .05) and CD3-CD16+CD56- NK cells declined (p < .01). Production of interferon-gamma increased (p < .10). The number of naive and memory T cells, the non-major histocompatibility complex (non-MHC)-restricted and HIV-specific MHC-restricted cytotoxicity and the production of macrophage inflammatory protein-1gamma were unchanged. The finding of increased expression of CD28, correlating to increased proliferation capacity, and diminished expression of CD38 on T cells, indicates that following long-term HAART, repopulation occurs with less activated cells with increased proliferative capacity. This finding may be of clinical importance in considering risk and vulnerability for progression of opportunistic infections post-HAART.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Søndergaard
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aladdin
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ullum
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gerstoft
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Skinhøj
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Pedersen
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis*; D015415:Biomarkers; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018450:Disease Progression; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015415:Biomarkers; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors