title: Interleukin-2-associated viral breakthroughs induce HIV-1-specific CD4 T cell responses in patients on fully suppressive highly active antiretroviral therapy.
abstract: The combination of intermittent subcutaneous IL-2 and highly active antiretroviral therapy in individuals infected with HIV-1 has been shown to have a beneficial quantitative effect on the CD4 T cell count. We observed IL-2-associated viral load 'blips' inducing HIV-1-specific lymphoproliferative responses at 24 weeks in such individuals. This immunotherapeutic approach, utilizing autologous virus as autovaccination, may be a viable, safer alternative to structured treatment interruption and potentially more efficacious than therapeutic vaccines.
authors.affiliation: St Stephen's Centre, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Ann K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Gareth A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gotch
authors.forename: Brian G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Gazzard
authors.forename: Nesrina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Imami
mesh_terms: D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D016233:Immunotherapy, Active / Q000379:methods*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2