title: Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F extract in cART-treated HIV patients with poor immune response: a pilot study to assess its immunomodulatory effects and safety.
abstract: Despite combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), 20% of HIV-infected patients are unable to achieve adequate immunologic recovery, in which immune activation plays a crucial role. We hypothesize that extract of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF), a Chinese medication used to treat autoimmune diseases, has immunomodulatory effects that may help CD4 cell recovery.
  
  
  
  Eighteen cART-treated HIV-infected patients virally suppressed for over 12 months with suboptimal CD4 cell recovery were enrolled. TwHF extract was administered at a dosage of 10 mg three times daily for 12 months. T-cell subsets and activation markers were evaluated at baseline and during follow-up. The trial was registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02002286).
  
  
  
  TwHF extract was associated with a mean increase in CD4 cell count of 88 cells/μl (95% confidential interval [CI], 72-105 cells/μl) after one year of treatment. A significant increase in the mean rate of CD4 cell recovery (26 before vs 75 cells/μl/year after TwHF use, P < 0.001) was observed. Analysis of 13 patients with activation profiles suggested that TwHF extract was associated with a decrease in T-cell immune activation which was temporally correlated with CD4 cell recovery. No discontinuation of TwHF extract was reported.
  
  
  
  Use of TwHF extract in HIV-infected patients was associated with a reduction in T-cell activation and improved CD4 recovery with an excellent safety profile.
authors: Taisheng
authors: T
authors: Li
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Xie
authors: Yijia
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: Jean-Pierre
authors: JP
authors: Routy
authors: Yanling
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: Yang
authors: Y
authors: Han
authors: Zhifeng
authors: Z
authors: Qiu
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Lv
authors: Xiaojing
authors: X
authors: Song
authors: Mengqing
authors: M
authors: Sun
authors: Xiaoying
authors: X
authors: Zhang
authors: Fusheng
authors: F
authors: Wang
authors: Hua
authors: H
authors: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D001215:Asparaginase; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003561:Cytarabine; D003630:Daunorubicin; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D013866:Thioguanine; D063106:Transgender Persons; D029757:Tripterygium / Q000737:chemistry*; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D003561:Cytarabine; D001215:Asparaginase; D013866:Thioguanine; D003630:Daunorubicin
keywords: HIV,; Immune activation,; Immune reconstitution; Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F,