Enhancement of human immunodeficiency virus type 1-specific CD4 and CD8 T cell responses in chronically infected persons after temporary treatment interruption.
Immunologic and virologic outcomes of treatment interruption were compared for 5 chronically human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons who have maintained antiretroviral therapy-mediated virus suppression, as compared with 5 untreated controls. After a median interruption of 55 days of therapy accompanied by rebound of virus, reinitiated therapy in 4 of 5 subjects resulted in suppression of 98.86% of plasma virus load by 21-33 days and no significant decrease in CD4 T cell percentage from baseline. Increased T helper responses against HIV-1 p24 antigen (P=. 014) and interferon-gamma-secreting CD8 T cell responses against HIV-1 Env (P=.004) were present during interruption of therapy and after reinitiation of treatment. The remaining subject whose treatment was interrupted did not resume treatment and continued to have a low virus load (<1080 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL) and persistent antiviral cell-mediated responses. In summary, cellular immunity against autologous HIV-1 has the potential to be acutely augmented in association with temporary treatment interruption in chronically infected persons.
Papasavvas
E
E
The Wistar Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 10104, USA.
Ortiz
G M
GM
Gross
R
R
Sun
J
J
Moore
E C
EC
Heymann
J J
JJ
Moonis
M
M
Sandberg
J K
JK
Drohan
L A
LA
Gallagher
B
B
Shull
J
J
Nixon
D F
DF
Kostman
J R
JR
Montaner
L J
LJ
D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019562:Viral Load
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D007371:Interferon-gamma