title: Dynamics of T cells subsets and lymphoproliferative responses during structured treatment interruption cycles and after definitive interruption of HAART in early chronic HIV type-1-infected patients.
abstract: Little is known about the consequences of short cycles of structured treatment interruption or definitive interruption of HAART for both T cell subset dynamics and T lymphoproliferative responses (LPR). Immunological follow-up was performed in 45 early chronical HIV-1-infected patients during short STI cycles during the first 12 weeks after the definitive interruption of HAART (DTI) and, thereafter, until VL reached a plateau. During STI cycles, CD8(+), CD8(+), CD28(+), activation markers and naive CD4(+) T cells increased significantly (p < 0.0001), while both naive CD8(+) and memory CD4(+) T cells decreased. During DTI, CD8(+) CD28(+) T cells fell and CD4(+) naive T cells stabilized and the rest of the T cell subsets presented changes similar to those during STI cycles. Despite a transient increase in LPR to recall antigens and HIV proteins during STI cycles, LPR to polyclonal stimuli and pathogens decreased over the study. Differences in T cell subset dynamics and LPR observed throughout the study suggest that multiple exposures to low levels of antigen could improve the immune system, mainly by driving T cell maturation. Conversely, higher and longer viral replication after cessation of HAART overwhelms the immune system. These data may help to guide future immune-based therapies.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Agnès
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Libois
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: María J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Maleno
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Climent
authors.forename: Mireia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arnedo
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gallart
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gatell
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plana
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000379:methods*; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D018959:CD57 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D019562:Viral Load; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018106:CD28 Antigens; D018959:CD57 Antigens