title: Modulation of polyfunctional HIV-specific CD8 T cells in patients responding differently to antiretroviral therapy.
abstract: Antiretroviral therapy allows a restoration of immune cell homeostasis associated with a normal immune competence. Our goal was to analyze the modulation of polyfunctional HIV-specific CD8+ T-cell responses during antiretroviral therapy. HIV-infected individuals were divided into four groups according to CD4+ cell count and viral load at the moment of recruitment. Whole blood was stimulated with a pool of CD8-specific HIV-antigens to assess cytokine/chemokine production and cytotoxicity activity by using flow cytometry. The groups show different modulation in HIV-specific CD8+ T-cell responses. In particular, immunological failure showed different distributions of polyfunctional HIVspecific CD8+ responses, mainly due to an increase of cells producing CD107alpha/IFNgamma/IL-2/MIP-1beta. Our results indicate that this particular 4+ functional subset is a possible correlate of immunological failure. Considering the complexity of interactions among HAART, immune system and HIV, work is in progress to find correlates of therapy efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani I.R.C.C.S, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Casetti
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani I.R.C.C.S, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Simone
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani I.R.C.C.S, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sacchi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani I.R.C.C.S, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bordoni
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani I.R.C.C.S, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Viola
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani I.R.C.C.S, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani I.R.C.C.S, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Agrati
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani I.R.C.C.S, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gioia
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani I.R.C.C.S, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D015488:HIV Antigens