title: Brief Report: Role of Thymic Reconstitution in the Outcome of AIDS-Related PML.
abstract: Implications of thymopoiesis in AIDS-related opportunistic infections remain unexplored. We used progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), caused by JC virus (JCV), as an opportunistic infection model, and we simultaneously investigated thymic output and T-cell responses against JCV in 22 patients with PML treated with combined antiretroviral therapy. Thymic output was significantly associated with JCV-specific CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cell responses and improved survival. Our data suggest that patients with AIDS-related PML and impaired thymopoiesis are less likely to develop a robust JCV-specific cellular immune response and consequently are at an increased risk for a poor clinical outcome.
authors.affiliation: *Division of Neuro Immunology, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; †Department of Medicine, Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; ‡Division of Infectious Diseases, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; and §Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Dr Gheuens is now with the Biogen Idec, Cambridge, MA).
authors.forename: Spyridon G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Chalkias
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gheuens
authors.forename: Evelyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bord
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Batson
authors.forename: Igor J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Koralnik
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007968:Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal / Q000276:immunology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents