Growth hormone enhances thymic function in HIV-1-infected adults.
Growth hormone (GH) is an underappreciated but important regulator of T cell development that can reverse age-related declines in thymopoiesis in rodents. Here, we report findings of a prospective randomized study examining the effects of GH on the immune system of HIV-1-infected adults. GH treatment was associated with increased thymic mass. In addition, GH treatment enhanced thymic output, as measured by both the frequency of T cell receptor rearrangement excision circles in circulating T cells and the numbers of circulating naive and total CD4(+) T cells. These findings provide compelling evidence that GH induces de novo T cell production and may, accordingly, facilitate CD4(+) T cell recovery in HIV-1-infected adults. Further, these randomized, prospective data have shown that thymic involution can be pharmacologically reversed in humans, suggesting that immune-based therapies could be used to enhance thymopoiesis in immunodeficient individuals.
Napolitano
Laura A
LA
Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, San Francisco, California 94158, USA. lnapolitano@gladstone.ucsf.edu
Schmidt
Diane
D
Gotway
Michael B
MB
Ameli
Niloufar
N
Filbert
Erin L
EL
Ng
Myra M
MM
Clor
Julie L
JL
Epling
Lorrie
L
Sinclair
Elizabeth
E
Baum
Paul D
PD
Li
Kai
K
Killian
Marisela Lua
ML
Bacchetti
Peter
P
McCune
Joseph M
JM
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D038041:Lymphopoiesis / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology
D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone