Higher levels of HIV DNA in memory and naive CD4(+) T cell subsets of viremic compared to non-viremic patients after 18 and 24 months of HAART.
The degree of infection of memory and naive CD4(+) T cells in patients treated with HAART and with durable undetectable or detectable viral load in plasma was evaluated. The following two groups of patients were analyzed cross-sectionally: (i) patients with undetectable HIV RNA plasma levels during follow-up (responders); (ii) patients with no reduction or with rebound in HIV RNA levels during treatment (non-responders). Patients were examined following 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of HAART, respectively, by quantifying: (i) plasma HIV RNA load; (ii) CD4(+) T cells; (iii) memory and naive CD4(+) T cells; (iv) HIV DNA levels in memory and naive CD4(+) T cells. HIV RNA plasma levels were significantly higher in non-responders vs responders at each time point (P<0.02), while CD4(+) T cell counts as well as memory and naive CD4(+) T cell levels were comparable in both viremic and non-viremic patients. However, higher HIV DNA values were observed in both memory and naive CD4(+) T cells of non-responders vs responders after 18 and 24 months of HAART (P<0.02), suggesting an increased amount of HIV-infected naive CD4(+) T cells and a sustained high degree of infection of memory CD4(+) T cells. Immunological reconstitution following HAART might potentially be hampered in viremic patients despite the absolute increase in CD4(+) T cell counts.
Baldanti
F
F
Servizio di Virologia, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Policlinico San Matteo, Via Taramelli 5, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
Paolucci
S
S
Gulminetti
R
R
Maserati
R
R
Migliorino
G
G
Pan
A
A
Maggiolo
F
F
Comolli
G
G
Chiesa
A
A
Gerna
G
G
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D019041:L-Selectin / Q000276:immunology*; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000821:virology*; D019562:Viral Load; D014766:Viremia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral; D019041:L-Selectin; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens