Early CD4(+) T cell recovery in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients receiving effective therapy is related to a down-regulation of apoptosis and not to proliferation.
This prospective study investigated the contributions of apoptosis and proliferation of CD4(+) T cells obtained by the introduction of a new antiretroviral treatment for human immunodeficiency virus infection. Virus load; T cell counts; apoptosis of T cell subsets, including naive cells; and proliferation were determined from treatment initiation to the third month in a cohort of patients. An increase in CD4(+) T cell count > or = 100 cells/microL over baseline was considered to be a satisfactory immune reconstitution. Sixty-nine patients completed the protocol, 22 of whom met our definition of a satisfactory immune reconstitution, showing a significantly more pronounced reduction in spontaneous CD4(+) T cell apoptosis at month 1 as well as month 3, compared with the other patients. In contrast, neither Fas-induced apoptosis down-regulation nor Fas-induced increased proliferation capacity was associated with a satisfactory immune reconstitution. Down-regulation of CD4(+) T cell apoptosis by antiretroviral treatment is the main mechanism associated with early CD4(+) T cell increase.
Roger
Pierre-Marie
PM
Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Hôpital de l'Archet 1, Centre Hospitalo--Universitaire de Nice BP3079, 06202, Nice cedex 3, France. roger.pm@chu-nice.fr
Breittmayer
Jean-Philippe
JP
Durant
Jacques
J
Sanderson
Frédéric
F
Ceppi
Carole
C
Brignone
Christelle
C
Cua
Eric
E
Clevenbergh
Philippe
P
Fuzibet
Jean-Gabriel
JG
Pesce
Alain
A
Bernard
Alain
A
Dellamonica
Pierre
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents