title: Immunology and the REACH study: HIV immunology and preliminary findings. Reaching for Excellence in Adolescent Care and Health.
abstract: This review paper presents the immunology findings in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected and uninfected youth in the Reaching for Excellence in Adolescent Care and Health (REACH) Project within the context of basic and HIV immunology concepts. Methods employed in the study for specimen collection, management, and laboratory analysis are presented. This paper reviews published analyses of cross-sectional data; longitudinal analyses are underway. These preliminary data extend the work of others in demonstrating the potential for substantial thymic reserve in youth. This finding in HIV infected adolescents has implications for a fuller response to antiretroviral or immune-based therapies compared to that seen in adults. Dysregulation in mucosal immunity may appear before systemic HIV effects are seen and requires attention particularly to screening and treatment of genital co-infections. REACH has demonstrated gender differences in immunologic measures irrespective of HIV infection status.
authors.affiliation: The Craig-Dalsimer Division of Adolescent Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Rudy
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Crowley-Nowick
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Douglas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D052776:Female Urogenital Diseases; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal / Q000276:immunology*; D007167:Immunotherapy; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008297:Male; D052801:Male Urogenital Diseases; D008403:Mass Screening; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016207:Cytokines