title: Effect of IL-2 therapy on CD8+ cell noncytotoxic anti-HIV response during primary HIV-1 infection.
abstract: Early treatment intervention during human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a strategy aimed to preserve and/or enhance the developing anti-HIV immune responses. We report the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) combined with intermittent subcutaneous doses of Interleukin 2 (IL-2) on CD8(+) cell noncytotoxic anti-HIV responses (CNAR), as well as on viral loads and CD4(+) cell/CD8(+) cell numbers in subjects with primary HIV-1 infection. Twenty-four patients received HAART, 24 received a combination of HAART plus IL-2, and 12 elected no-therapy. In comparison to HAART alone, IL-2 treatment led to significant increases in CD4(+) cell numbers through week 48 of the study. No effect was observed on viral loads or the CD8(+) cell population. The first cycle of IL-2 enhanced CNAR; later cycles showed no substantial effect. This study suggests that HAART combined with IL-2 could provide an immunologic benefit in the treatment of early HIV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Martinez-Mariño
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Ashlock
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shiboski
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Hecht
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Levy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D007376:Interleukin-2; D012367:RNA, Viral