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.
California Department of Health Services, Richmond, California 94804, USA.
Chris A R
CA
Baker
Nneka
N
Emenyonu
Isaac
I
Ssewanyana
Norman G
NG
Jones
Mohamed
M
Elrefaei
Frehd
F
Nghania
Justine
J
Nakiwala
Irene
I
Andia
Richard
R
Clark
Jeffrey
J
Martin
David R
DR
Bangsberg
Huyen
H
Cao
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