HIV-1-infected CD8+CD4+ T cells decay in vivo at a similar rate to infected CD4 T cells during HAART.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the potential for CD4+CD8+ T cells [CD8 double positive (CD8 DP)] T cells to form a reservoir of HIV-1 following HAART through measurement of the rate of decay of infected CD4/CD8 DP T cells.


METHODS
HIV-1 proviral loads in highly pure CD4 and CD8 DP T cells were determined for study subjects before and after 200-400 days of therapy and HIV-1 DNA decay rates were calculated.


RESULTS
Before therapy, HIV-1 proviral load in CD8 DP correlated negatively with CD4 cell count. Decay rates of HIV-1-infected CD4 and CD8 DP T cells were similar. Rates for CD8 DP T cells correlated with the time to suppression of viral replication, whereas no such relationship was true for CD4 cell decay rates. A significant reduction in activated cells was observed for both cell types. The action of HAART on HIV-1 replication was similar for both CD4 cells and CD8 DP T cells, although the rate of clearance of infected CD8 DP T cells appeared more critical for a rapid reduction in plasma viral load. Although the size of the CD8 DP T cell reservoir in peripheral blood was smaller relative to that of CD4 cells, HAART did not completely clear HIV-1 infection from this cell subset.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirmed that CD8 DP T cells are a major reservoir for HIV-1 in vivo and, therefore, represent a potential reservoir for HIV-1 during HAART, in a manner analogous to that of CD4 T cells.
Hughes
Gareth J
GJ
Centre for Infectious Diseases, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. gareth.hughes@ed.ac.uk
Cochrane
Alexandra
A
Leen
Clifford
C
Morris
Sheila
S
Bell
Jeanne E
JE
Simmonds
Peter
P
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D019562:Viral Load
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents