title: Thymic Function during 12 Months of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy in Thai HIV-Infected Patients with Normal and Slow Immune Recovery.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine and compare thymic output during 12 months of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in HIV-infected patients with different types of immune recovery. In total, 18 Thai HIV-infected patients with normal immune recovery (NR) and 13 Thai HIV-infected patients with slow immune recovery (SR) were enrolled. T-cell receptor rearrangement excision circle (TREC) levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and CD4(+) T cells were quantified at baseline, and after 6 and 12 months of HAART. CD4(+) T-cell counts in NR patients were significantly higher than those in SR patients after 6 and 12 months of HAART. However, the median TREC levels in PBMCs and CD4(+) T cells in both groups were comparable. Moreover, TREC levels showed similar trends in PBMCs and CD4(+) T cells in both groups during 12 months of HAART. Only patients with SR had significant increases in median TREC levels in PBMCs and CD4(+) T-cells during the first 6 months of HAART. No correlations were found between CD4(+) T-cell count and TREC levels in PBMCs and CD4(+) T cells. These results imply that the increase in CD4(+) T-cell count in SR patients after 12 months of HAART is likely attributable to thymic output and other sources.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University.
authors.forename: Doungnapa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kingkeow
authors.forename: Sarinee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Srithep
authors.forename: Jutarat
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Praparattanapan
authors.forename: Khuanchai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Supparatpinyo
authors.forename: Sakorn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pornprasert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D019562:Viral Load / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents