HIV-1-Specific CD4 helper function in persons with chronic HIV-1 infection on antiviral drug therapy as measured by ELISPOT after treatment with an inactivated, gp120-depleted HIV-1 in incomplete Freund's adjuvant.
OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized that treatment of HIV-1-seropositive study subjects receiving potent antiviral therapy with an HIV-specific immune-based therapy would increase HIV-1-specific T-helper immune function.


METHODS
10 HIV-1-seropositive study subjects receiving antiretroviral therapy were treated with an inactivated, gp120-depleted immunogen in IFA (HIV-1 immunogen, Remune) at baseline, week 12, and week 24.


METHODS
The frequency of HIV-1 antigen-stimulated interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-producing cells was determined by the ELISPOT assay.


RESULTS
Study subjects significantly increased their frequency of HIV-1-stimulated (p <. 001) or p24 antigen-stimulated (p <.01) IFN-gamma-producing cells after one, two, and three treatments of HIV-1 immunogen. Depletion of CD4 cells resulted in the strongest abrogation of the IFN-gamma response. The frequency of HIV-1 (r = 0.64; p =.0002) and p24 (r = 0. 72; p <.001) antigen-stimulated IFN-gamma-producing cells in the CD8-depleted population before and after treatment was associated with the lymphocyte-proliferative response.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with HIV-1 immunogen significantly enhanced the frequency of HIV-1-specific IFN-gamma-producing cells. Studies are ongoing to determine the relationship between this reversal of HIV-specific anergy and virologic outcomes.
Moss
R B
RB
The Immune Response Corporation, Carlsbad, California 92008, USA. shotdoc@imnr.com
Webb
E
E
Giermakowska
W K
WK
Jensen
F C
FC
Savary
J R
JR
Wallace
M R
MR
Carlo
D J
DJ
D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000188:drug therapy; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; C098825:HIV-1 immunogen, incomplete Freund's adjuvant; C105086:remune; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant