The relationship between T cell proliferative responses and plasma viremia during treatment of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection with combination antiretroviral therapy.
The relationship between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 replication and CD4+ T cell function was examined. T lymphocyte proliferation in response to both HIV-1 antigens and recall antigens was measured in HIV-1-infected individuals before and after they received highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). No correlation was observed between baseline viral load or CD4+ T cell count and the T cell proliferative response to HIV-1 Gag. Suppression of viremia was not associated with an increase in T cell proliferative responses. Emergence of viral replication during short periods of intermittent therapy promoted generalized activation of T helper lymphocytes, manifested by increased T cell proliferative responses to HIV-1 Gag and recall antigens. Recovery of CD4+ T cell responses occurred in some individuals who initiated HAART years after infection and who were intermittently adherent to drug treatment. Thus, CD4+ T cell responses can sometimes be regenerated if viral load is suppressed to allow some immune recovery and if antigenic stimulation is later provided.
Binley
J M
JM
The Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10016, USA. jbinley@adarc.org
Schiller
D S
DS
Ortiz
G M
GM
Hurley
A
A
Nixon
D F
DF
Markowitz
M M
MM
Moore
J P
JP
D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002455:Cell Division; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000032:analysis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D013997:Time Factors; D019562:Viral Load; D014766:Viremia / Q000188:drug therapy*
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24