title: T-cell vaccination against anti-CD4 autoimmunity in HIV-1 subtypes B and C-infected patients--an extended open trial.
abstract: This study is an extended clinical trial of the one initiated and reported in the Journal of Clinical Virology 2004;31S:S48-54. Thirteen HIV-1 patients (eight subtype B and five subtype C) that manifested T-cell autoimmunity to recombinant human CD4 (rCD4) were treated with T-cell vaccine composed of glutaraldehyde-treated autologous anti-CD4 reactive T-cells and compared to historical seven non-vaccinated HIV-1-infected subjects. This study proved to be feasible and safe. Follow-up study revealed that 7/8 subtype B and 2/4 subtype C patients (one has just received the first TCV injection) responded with a persistent increase in their blood CD4 T-cell levels and four subtype B patients manifested decreased anti-CD4 autoimmunity. Despite highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), the persistence of CD4 T-cell lymphopenia may be associated with anti-CD4 autoimmunity. T-cell vaccination (TCV) may decrease such autoimmunity and elevate CD4 T-cell numbers.
authors.affiliation: The Human Biology Research Center (HBRC), Hadassah University Hospital, Ein-Kerem, Jerusalem, Israel. rivka_abulafia@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Rivka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abulafia-Lapid
authors.forename: Shlomo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mayan
authors.forename: Zvi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bentwich
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Keren-Zur
authors.forename: Yulia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Avbramovitz
authors.forename: Irun R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Henri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Atlan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D015551:Autoimmunity; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic