[Dynamics of T lymphocyte subsets in HAART treated AIDS patients with successful suppression of HIV replication and different CD4 + T cell restoration].
OBJECTIVE
To study the dynamic changes of T lymphocyte subsets of AIDS patients during more than 24 months of highly active antiretrovirus therapy (HAART) with successful suppression of HIV replication and different CD4 + T cell restoration.


METHODS
Totally 45 AIDS patients who had received HAART for more than 24 months were included. During HAART (including DO, M3, M6, M12, M18, and M24), the number of plasma HIV-1 RNA was measured quantitatively using the bDNA assay, and T lymphocyte subsets including CD3 + CD4 + cells, CD3 + CD8 + cells, naive CD4 + cells (CD4 + CD45RA + CD62L +), CD4 + CD28 + cells , and CD8 + CD38 + cells were detected with flow cytometer.


RESULTS
Among 45 patients, 24 patients (53.3%) whose plasma viral load decreased to less than 500 copies/ml at M6 and maintained to M24 were classified into three groups according to the CD4 + T cell count increments on M24 (compared with DO): group A (< 100/mm3), group B (100-200/mm3), and group C (> 200/mm3). After the initiation of HAART, T lymphocyte response, including CD4 + T cell counts, naive CD4 + cell counts, percentages of CD4 + CD28 + cells in these patients were improved gradually, while CD8 + CD38 + percentage decreased. The improvement of T lymphocyte response in group C was most remarkable even with highest plasma viral load and lowest CD4 T cell count on DO. Compared with group A and B, group C had significantly better improvement not only in the quantities of CD4 + T cell, but also in the CD28 + expression and naive CD4 + T cell populations.


CONCLUSIONS
T lymphocyte response of AIDS patients can be effectively reconstituted by HAART. Different dynamics of CD4 + CD28 + and naive CD4 + populations may considerably contribute to the quantity and cellular function restoration of CD4 + T lymphocyte.
Qiu
Zhi-Feng
ZF
Department of Infectious Diseases, PUMC Hospital, CAMS and PUMC, Beijing 100730, China.
Li
Tai-Sheng
TS
Ruan
Gui-Ren
GR
Han
Yang
Y
Xie
Jing
J
Zuo
Ling-Yan
LY
Li
Yan-Ling
YL
Wang
Ai-Xia
AX
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006678:HIV / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents