Discordant CD4 T lymphocyte responses to antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection are associated with ex-vivo rates of apoptosis.
Our purpose was to determine if changes in CD4 cell counts in HIV-infected patients with good viral suppression on stable antiretroviral regimens could be predicted by ex-vivo rates of apoptosis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Patients were grouped by lowest pre-treatment and highest on-treatment CD4 cell counts and classified as complete immune responders, partial responders, or non-responders. Whole blood was collected from a subgroup of patients and controls, and rates of the ex-vivo apoptosis of PBMC were assessed. Non-responders exhibited significantly increased apoptosis, whereas good immune responses were associated with decreased apoptosis. Persistently accelerated apoptosis may contribute to persisting immune deficiency independent of the viral load.
Pitrak
D L
DL
Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago, USA.
Bolaños
J
J
Hershow
R
R
Novak
R M
RM
D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D019562:Viral Load
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral