Higher levels of IL-6, CD4 turnover and Treg frequency are already present before cART in HIV-infected subjects with later low CD4 recovery.
Immunological characterization of HIV-infected subjects with low CD4-recovery (LR-subjects) has been extensively performed after a variable period of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). We now explore immunological alterations present before the cART onset. In a case-control study, we selected pre-cART samples of HIV-subjects with and without low CD4-recovery after cART (n = 21 per group). CD4 T-cell activation, senescence and exhaustion related markers were not found specifically altered before cART initiation. On the other hand, we found that LR-subjects before cART already showed increased levels of IL6 (p = 0.009) and increased frequencies of Ki67+CD4+T-cells (p = 0.026), CD45RA-CD27+CD4+T-cells (p = 0.008) and Treg (p = 0.001), as well as increased expression of CD95 and CD127 on CD4 T-cells (p = 0.016; p = 0.032, respectively). These parameters characterize the immunological damage in LR-subjects before the cART onset and could be associated to the mechanisms hindering the subsequent CD4 recovery.
Laboratory of Immunovirology, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, IBiS, Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, Seville 41013, Spain. Electronic address: isaac_rosado@hotmail.com.
Isaac
I
Rosado-Sánchez
Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
Inmaculada
I
Jarrín
Laboratory of Immunovirology, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, IBiS, Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, Seville 41013, Spain.
María M
MM
Pozo-Balado
Laboratory of Immunovirology, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, IBiS, Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, Seville 41013, Spain.
Rebeca S
RS
de Pablo-Bernal
Laboratory of Immunovirology, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, IBiS, Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, Seville 41013, Spain.
Inés
I
Herrero-Fernández
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Virgen del Rocío University Hospital IBiS/CSIC/SAS/University of Seville, Seville, Spain.
Ana I
AI
Alvarez-Ríos
Infectious Diseases and HIV/AIDS Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitari de Tarragona Joan XXIII, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain.
Esther
E
Rodríguez-Gallego
Laboratory of Immunovirology, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, IBiS, Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, Seville 41013, Spain.
Miguel
M
Genebat
Centro Sanitario Sandoval, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain.
Mar
M
Vera
Infectious Diseases and HIV Unit, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Madrid, Spain.
Juan
J
Berenguer
Infectious Diseases Service, Hospital Son Dureta, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
María L
ML
Martín
Service of Internal Medicine, Hospital Reina Sofía, Murcia, Spain.
Enrique
E
Bernal
Infectious Diseases and HIV/AIDS Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitari de Tarragona Joan XXIII, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain.
Francesc
F
Vidal
Institut de Recerca de la Sida IrsiCaixa-HIVACAT, Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08916, Badalona, Spain.
Julià
J
Blanco
Laboratory of Immunovirology, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, IBiS, Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, Seville 41013, Spain.
Manuel
M
Leal
Laboratory of Immunovirology, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, IBiS, Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, Seville 41013, Spain. Electronic address: ypacheco-ibis@us.es.
Yolanda M
YM
Pacheco
D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism
D015850:Interleukin-6; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D019014:fas Receptor
CD4 T-cell homeostasis; Inflammation; Low CD4 recovery; Treg; Turnover; cART