title: Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor increases CD4+ T cell counts of human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients receiving stable, highly active antiretroviral therapy: results from a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: Thirty human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with CD4+ T cell counts <350 cells/mm3 who had received stable, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for at least 24 weeks were randomized to receive either placebo or granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF; 0.3 mg/mL 3 times a week) for 12 weeks. Blood samples were collected at specified time points. G-CSF treatment enhanced the total lymphocyte count (P=.002) and increased CD3+ (P=.005), CD4+ (P=.03), and CD8+ (P=.004) T cell counts as well as numbers of CD3-CD16+CD56+ NK cells (P=.001). The increases in CD4+ and CD8+ cell counts resulted from increases in CD45RO+ memory T cells and cells expressing the CD38 activation marker. Lymphocyte proliferative responses to phytohemagglutinin and Candida antigen decreased, whereas NK cell activity and plasma HIV RNA did not change during G-CSF treatment. After 24 weeks, all immune parameters had returned to baseline values. This study suggests that G-CSF treatment of HIV-infected patients receiving stable HAART increases the concentration of CD4+, CD8+, and NK cells without inducing changes in the virus load.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Tagensvej 20, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark. Infdisha@rh.dk
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aladdin
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ullum
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dam Nielsen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Espersen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mathiesen
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Katzenstein
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gerstoft
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Skinhoj
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Pedersen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor