title: Central memory CD4 cells are an early indicator of immune reconstitution in HIV/AIDS patients with anti-retroviral treatment.
abstract: The number of central memory cells among the CD4+ T cells and the of activation of CD8+ T cells is believed to be a better indicator of immune restoration in patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) than the absolute numbers of CD4(+) and CD8+ T cells alone. In the current study, we investigated the changes in the CD4(+) T cell subsets and their association with immune reconstitution and immune activation at early stages of ART. A prospective study was performed in 21 asymptomatic treatment-naive HIV-infected patients with CD4(+) T cells less than 350 cells/μl. Blood samples were evaluated at base line, and at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks' post antiretroviral therapy (ART). A biphasic increase of CD4(+) T cells, central memory CD4 cells (CD4 CM) and CD4 naïve cells were observed after ART, with a rapid increase before week 4. Change in CD4 CM at week 4 positively correlated with the change in CD4(+) T cells at weeks 12 post ART, and negatively correlated with the change in CD8(+)CD38(+) T cells at weeks 12 post ART. We conclude that CD4 CM cells are a major contributor to early immune reconstitution in treatment-naive HIV-infected patients with delayed ART, and might be an early indicator for immune reconstitution.
authors.affiliation: Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing You'an Hospital, Capital Medical University, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hua
authors.forename: Yanmei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Dexi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yonghong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xinyue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D054316:Biomarkers, Pharmacological / Q000097:blood; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D054316:Biomarkers, Pharmacological