Immunologic profile of human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients during viral remission and relapse on antiretroviral therapy.
A dissociation between plasma human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA levels and CD4(+) cell counts has been reported in patients experiencing viral relapse while receiving antiretroviral therapy. This study compared patients with stable CD4(+) lymphocytes during viral relapse while receiving treatment with patients who had sustained virus suppression. Plasma HIV RNA levels, lymphocyte immunophenotyping, and T cell receptor excision circle (TREC) levels were measured. Naive CD4(+) lymphocyte phenotype and TREC levels were not significantly different in patients with virus suppression or in those who had relapsed. However, CD8(+) lymphocyte activation, including the number and percentage of activated cells and CD38 antibody-binding capacity, was significantly elevated during viral relapse, compared with that in suppressed patients. By multivariable regression analyses, CD8(+) and CD4(+) lymphocyte activation were associated significantly with increasing plasma HIV RNA levels.
Wellons
M F
MF
Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
Ottinger
J S
JS
Weinhold
K J
KJ
Gryszowka
V
V
Sanders
L L
LL
Edwards
L J
LJ
Gooding
M E
ME
Thomasch
J R
JR
Bartlett
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015329:Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte; D006678:HIV / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000145:classification
D012367:RNA, Viral