CD4+ lymphocyte increases in HIV patients during potent antiretroviral therapy are dependent on inhibition of CD8+ cell apoptosis.
Although suppression of apoptosis contributes to immune-reconstitution during potent antiretroviral therapy, its relationship with the majors indicators of response to therapy, that is, changes in CD4(+) cell counts and in viral loads (VL), is still debated. We extended our previous study by collecting data on the relationships among apoptosis and immunological and virological parameters during a long-term follow-up of HIV patients with an overall positive response to potent antiretroviral therapy. We report results from 15 patients who completed two years of therapy. In a smaller group of patients, we focused our attention on investigating the specific contribution of the CD8(+) subset in the overall changes in lymphocyte apoptosis, which occur concomitantly with the response to the therapy. Our data, while again confirming that inhibition of PBMC apoptosis is a phenomenon strictly related to a positive response to potent antiretroviral therapy, suggest that CD4(+) cell rescue is not directly dependent on inhibition of CD4(+) cell apoptosis but rather on that of the CD8(+) subset.
Grelli
Sandro
S
Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Science, Tor Vergata, University Hospital, 00133 Rome, Italy.
D'Ettore
Gabriella
G
Lauria
Filippo
F
Montella
Francesca
F
Di Traglia
Loide
L
D'Agostini
Cartesio
C
Lichtner
Miriam
M
Vullo
Vincenzo
V
Favalli
Cartesio
C
Vella
Stefano
S
Macchi
Beatrice
B
Mastino
Antonio
A
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D019562:Viral Load
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents