title: Therapeutic DNA vaccination of vertically HIV-infected children: report of the first pediatric randomised trial (PEDVAC).
abstract: METHODS
  Twenty vertically HIV-infected children, 6-16 years of age, with stable viral load control and CD4+ values above 400 cells/mm(3).
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten subjects continued their ongoing antiretroviral treatment (ART, Group A) and 10 were immunized with a HIV-DNA vaccine in addition to their previous therapy (ART and vaccine, Group B). The genetic vaccine represented HIV-1 subtypes A, B and C, encoded Env, Rev, Gag and RT and had no additional adjuvant. Immunizations took place at weeks 0, 4 and 12, with a boosting dose at week 36. Monitoring was performed until week 60 and extended to week 96.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Safety data showed good tolerance of the vaccine. Adherence to ART remained high and persistent during the study and did not differ significantly between controls and vaccinees. Neither group experienced either virological failure or a decline of CD4+ counts from baseline. Higher HIV-specific cellular immune responses were noted transiently to Gag but not to other components of the vaccine. Lymphoproliferative responses to a virion antigen HIV-1 MN were higher in the vaccinees than in the controls (p = 0.047), whereas differences in reactivity to clade-specific Gag p24, RT or Env did not reach significance. Compared to baseline, the percentage of HIV-specific CD8+ lymphocytes releasing perforin in the Group B was higher after the vaccination schedule had been completed (p = 0.031). No increased CD8+ perforin levels were observed in control Group A.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study demonstrates the feasibility, safety and moderate immunogenicity of genetic vaccination in vertically HIV-infected children, paving the way for amplified immunotherapeutic approaches in the pediatric population.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  clinicaltrialsregister.eu _2007-002359-18IT.
authors: University Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Immune and Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital "Bambino Gesu", Rome, Italy.
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Palma
authors: Maria Luisa
authors: ML
authors: Romiti
authors: Carla
authors: C
authors: Montesano
authors: Veronica
authors: V
authors: Santilli
authors: Nadia
authors: N
authors: Mora
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Aquilani
authors: Stefania
authors: S
authors: Dispinseri
authors: Hyppolite K
authors: HK
authors: Tchidjou
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Montano
authors: Lars E
authors: LE
authors: Eriksson
authors: Stefania
authors: S
authors: Baldassari
authors: Stefania
authors: S
authors: Bernardi
authors: Gabriella
authors: G
authors: Scarlatti
authors: Britta
authors: B
authors: Wahren
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Rossi
mesh_terms: D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy* / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014611:Vaccination; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D019444:Vaccines, DNA