Normalization of B cell counts and subpopulations after antiretroviral therapy in chronic HIV disease.
BACKGROUND
Untreated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease leads to abnormalities in all major lymphocyte populations, including CD4(+) T cells, CD8(+) T cells, and B cells. However, little is known regarding the effect of antiretroviral therapy (ART)-induced decrease in HIV viremia on B cell numbers and subpopulations.


METHODS
We conducted a longitudinal study to evaluate changes in B cell numbers and subpopulations that occur during the course of 12 months of effective ART in a group of individuals with chronic HIV infection.


RESULTS
ART-induced decrease in HIV viremia was associated with a significant increase in B cell counts, similar to increases in CD4(+) T cell counts yet distinct from the lack of increase in CD8(+) T cells. The increase in B cell counts was accompanied by a significant decrease in the frequency of apoptosis-prone B cell subpopulations, namely mature activated and immature transitional B cells, which are overrepresented in untreated HIV disease. The increase in B cell counts was reflected by a significant increase in naive and resting memory B cells, both of which represent populations that are essential for generating adequate humoral immunity.


CONCLUSIONS
Normalization of B cell counts and subpopulations may help to explain the improvement in humoral immunity reported to occur after an ART-induced decrease in HIV viremia.
Moir
Susan
S
Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. smoir@niaid.nih.gov
Malaspina
Angela
A
Ho
Jason
J
Wang
Wei
W
Dipoto
Angela C
AC
O'Shea
Marie A
MA
Roby
Gregg
G
Mican
Joann M
JM
Kottilil
Shyam
S
Chun
Tae-Wook
TW
Proschan
Michael A
MA
Fauci
Anthony S
AS
D000328:Adult; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D014766:Viremia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents