Reduced viral burden amongst high responder patients following HIV-1 p24 peptide-based therapeutic immunization.
We have previously shown that HIV p24-like peptides (Vacc-4x) via activation of skin dendritic cells induced immune responses in 90% of HIV patients on highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART). These patients (n=38) were here subjected to a final 14-week interruption of HAART. Patients with the highest delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses to Vacc-4x-peptides before treatment interruption tended to achieve lower actual HIV RNA levels at the end of the study compared to Vacc-4x DTH low-responders (p=0.08) and significantly so in terms of viral loads relative to their individual pre-HAART HIV RNA set-points (p=0.04). CD4+ lymphocyte counts were maintained only among DTH high responders but decreased in the other patients during recurrent viremia (p</=0.02). No other pre-study differences in HIV history or p24-responses were found.
Kran
Anne-Marte B
AM
Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty Division Ullevaal University Hospital, University of Oslo, Kirkeveien 166, NO-0407 Oslo, Norway.
Sommerfelt
Maja A
MA
Sørensen
Birger
B
Nyhus
Jørgen
J
Baksaas
Ingebjørg
I
Bruun
Johan N
JN
Kvale
Dag
D
D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D019562:Viral Load
D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D012367:RNA, Viral; C494182:Vacc-4x