title: Effects of different antigenic stimuli on thymic function and interleukin-7/CD127 system in patients with chronic HIV infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We tested if an increase in immune activation and a decrease in CD4⁺ T cells induced by different antigenic stimuli could be associated with changes in the thymic function and the interleukin (IL)-7/CD127 system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six HIV-infected patients under combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) were randomized to receive, during 12 months, a complete immunization schedule (7 vaccines and 15 doses) or placebo. Thereafter, cART was interrupted during 6 months. Changes in the thymic function and the IL-7/CD127 system after 3 different antigenic stimuli (vaccines, episodes of low-level intermittent viremia before cART interruption, or viral load rebound after cART interruption) were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the period on cART, neither vaccines nor low-level viremia influenced thymic function or IL-7/CD127 system parameters. By analyzing the cohort as a whole while on cART, a significant improvement was observed in the thymic function as measured by an increase in the thymic volume (P = 0.024), T-cell receptor excision circle-bearing cells (P = 0.012), and naive CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells (P = 0.069 both). No significant changes were observed in the IL-7/CD127 system. After cART interruption, a decrease in T-cell receptor excision circles (P < 0.001) and naive CD8⁺ T cells (P < 0.001), an increase in IL-7 and expression of CD127 on naive and memory CD4⁺ T cells (P = 0.028, P = 0.088, and P = 0.04, respectively), and a significant decrease in CD127 on naive and memory CD8⁺ T cells (P = 0.01, P = 0.006, respectively) were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-level transient antigenic stimuli during cART were not associated with changes in the thymic function or the IL-7/CD127 system. Conversely, viral load rebound very early after cART interruption influenced the thymic function and the IL-7/CD127 system. Clinical Trials.gov number NCT00329251.
authors.affiliation: *Medical Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Spain; †Infectious Diseases Unit, HIVACAT HIV Vaccine Development in Catalonia, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Spain; ‡Retrovirology and Viral Immunopathology Laboratories, HIVACAT, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Spain; §Preventive Medicine Department Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Spain; ‖Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain; ¶Immunology Laboratory, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Spain; #Microbiology Laboratory, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Spain; **Radiology Department, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Spain; and ††Infectious Diseases Service, IBIS, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocio, Seville, Spain (Anna López is now with the Molecular and Translational Oncology Research Group, IDIBAPS, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Spain).
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Berta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vilella
authors.forename: Jose M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nicolas
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gallart
authors.forename: Tomàs
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pumarola
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leal
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vallejo
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bayas
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gatell
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plana
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: García
mesh_terms: D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000502:physiology*; D019562:Viral Load; D014766:Viremia
chemical_list: D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; C508605:IL7 protein, human; D015851:Interleukin-7; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7