Early highly active antiretroviral therapy for acute HIV-1 infection preserves immune function of CD8+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes.
Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has been advocated for the management of primary HIV-1 infection without clear understanding of its immunological effects. Here, we demonstrate that early use of HAART during primary infection preserves HIV-specific CD8(+) T cells physically and functionally while HIV-specific T cell help is sustained. We also show that even transient administration of HAART at seroconversion can preserve HIV-specific immunity. In contrast, delayed initiation of HAART is associated with a progressive loss of HIV-specific CD8(+) T cells and absent HIV-specific T cell help. These results imply that HIV-specific T help is damaged during primary HIV-1 infection. Early drug treatment, which preserves this immunity, also preserves HIV-specific CD8(+) T cells. These results have implications for understanding the early pathogenesis of HIV-1 infection and suggest that acute HIV infection should be treated aggressively and as early as possible.
Oxenius
A
A
Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine and Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom.
Price
D A
DA
Easterbrook
P J
PJ
O'Callaghan
C A
CA
Kelleher
A D
AD
Whelan
J A
JA
Sontag
G
G
Sewell
A K
AK
Phillips
R E
RE
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001483:Base Sequence; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D017931:DNA Primers; D000939:Epitopes / Q000737:chemistry; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1; D015795:HLA-B8 Antigen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D019562:Viral Load
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D017931:DNA Primers; D000939:Epitopes; D015795:HLA-B8 Antigen