Profile of immunologic recovery in HIV-infected Ugandan adults after antiretroviral therapy.
HIV infection is characterized by a decrease in total CD4 cell count, rising viral load, as well as an increase in immune activation levels. Increased activation can lead to an increase in apoptosis and contribute to CD4 depletion. We evaluated the clinical and immunologic responses of 23 HIV-positive Ugandan volunteers following initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART). All volunteers achieved and maintained complete viral suppression within the first 3 months of therapy (p > 0.05). CD4+ and CD8+ T cell activation also decreased significantly, although it never reached the level of HIV negative Ugandan volunteers. Viral suppression and CD4 cell recovery were also associated with an improved profile in CD8+ T cell functional markers, but had no effect on HIV-specific proliferation. We conclude that ART in a cohort of therapy-naive Ugandans with AIDS partially restores but does not fully reverse the immune dysfunction observed in chronic HIV infection.
Baker
Chris A R
CA
California Department of Health Services, Richmond, California 94804, USA.
Emenyonu
Nneka
N
Ssewanyana
Isaac
I
Jones
Norman G
NG
Elrefaei
Mohamed
M
Nghania
Frehd
F
Nakiwala
Justine
J
Andia
Irene
I
Clark
Richard
R
Martin
Jeffrey
J
Bangsberg
David R
DR
Cao
Huyen
H
D000328:Adult; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D014454:Uganda
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents