title: Predictive value of interleukin-7 levels for virological response to treatment in HIV-1-infected children.
abstract: We recently reported that interleukin-7 (IL-7), a potent stimulator of lymphopoiesis, is an independent predictor of virological response to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV-1 infected adults. To determine if this cytokine also predicts treatment response in HIV-1-infected children, a longitudinal study was performed over 48 weeks in 36 treatment-naïve children vertically infected with HIV-1. Subjects who received treatment (n = 29) were stratified as complete virological responders (n = 12), partial virological responders (n = 11), or non-responders (n = 6), based on decline in viral load from baseline to week 48. Median plasma IL-7 levels at baseline were higher in complete responders (4.85 pg/mL, interquartile range [IQR] = 3.35-6.5) than in untreated controls (2.10 pg/mL, IQR = 1.50-3.50; p = 0.05). Linear regression analysis showed that baseline IL-7 levels were positively correlated with changes in HIV-1 viral load between baseline and week 24 (r = 0.40; p = 0.03) and between baseline and week 48 (r = 0.34; p = 0.07), but not with corresponding changes in CD4+ T-cell percentages and absolute counts. Collectively, these results indicate that IL-7 levels at baseline are predictive of virological but not immunological response to ART in children infected with HIV-1.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Immunodeficiency Service, McGill University Health Centre, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Mohamed-Rachid
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Boulassel
authors.forename: Johanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Samson
authors.forename: Ampha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khammy
authors.forename: Normand
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lapointe
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Soudeyns
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Routy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D015851:Interleukin-7