Relationship of CD8(+) T cell noncytotoxic anti-HIV response to CD4(+) T cell number in untreated asymptomatic HIV-infected individuals.
During chronic HIV infection, asymptomatic individuals demonstrate a strong CD8(+) cell noncytotoxic antiviral response (CNAR). With the onset of symptoms or reduction in CD4(+) cell counts, CNAR decreases. Presently, it is recommended that infected individuals receive antiretroviral therapy if CD4(+) cell counts fall below 350 cells/microL. To determine whether CNAR lends support to this recommendation for initiation of antiretroviral treatment, we examined CNAR in 20 healthy, untreated, HIV-infected men exhibiting a range of CD4(+) cell numbers. Our results indicate that the asymptomatic untreated HIV-infected individuals with less than 300 CD4(+) cells/microL had a significantly lower CNAR than those with higher CD4(+) cell counts. These data on CNAR in untreated, healthy, HIV-infected individuals support the current recommendation for when to initiate antiretroviral therapy.
Castelli
JoAnn C
JC
Department of Medicine and Department of Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco 94143-1270, USA.
Deeks
Steven G
SG
Shiboski
Stephen
S
Levy
Jay A
JA
D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008875:Middle Aged; D019562:Viral Load; D014779:Virus Replication
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents