[Immunologic recovery after 2-years on HAART in vertically HIV-infected children].
BACKGROUND
Our purpose was to carry out an analysis of T cells subsets involved in the recovery of the immune system in vertically HIV-1-infected children, on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) over more than 24 months.


METHODS
Seventeen HIV-1-infected children were studied: a) Res-group (HIV-1-infected children who were HAART-responders): 10 children in category C3 at entry in the study who, after more than 24 months on HAART, recovered CD4+ T cells (> 25% and 500 CD4+ T-cells/ml) and may control viral replicación, and b) non-Res group (HIV-1-infected children who did not respond to HAART): 7 children in category C3 at entry in the study who, after more than 24 months on HAART, did not recover CD4+ T-cells (< 15% or 200 CD4+ T-cells/ml) and did not control viral replication. As control group, 12 HIV-1-uninfected children with similar ages were included in the study.


RESULTS
Children in the Res-group recovered the values of CD4+, CD8+ naïve (CD45RA+CD62L+) and memory (CD45RO+) T-cells until reaching the values of the control group. The differences were significant with regard to the non-Res group, except for the CD8+CD45RO+ T-cells of the Res and non-Res groups which were higher than the control group. Moreover, Res-group had values of CD8+HLA-DR+CD38+ T-cells lower than the non-Res group, yet both HIV-1 groups (Res and non-Res) had significantly higher values of CD4+ and CD8+ activated (HLA-DR+CD38+) T-cells than the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
The recovery of the immune system induced by HAART in HIV-1-infected children seems to be the consequence of the decrease of the immune system chronic activation and the recovery of naïve T-cells.
Resino
Salvador
S
Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.
Bellón
José M
JM
Gurbindo
Dolores
D
Ramos
José Tomás
JT
Navarro
Marisa
M
León
Juan Antonio
JA
Clemente
Julián
J
Muñoz-Fernández
M Angeles
MA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D002648:Child; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors