Prognostic value of proliferative responses to HIV-1 antigen in chronically HIV-infected patients under antiretroviral therapy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

In the chronic stage of HIV infection T cell proliferative responses to HIV antigens are rare, mostly of low level, and the influence of responses on antiretroviral therapy is not known.

OBJECTIVES:

To determine a potential correlation between HIV-specific proliferative responses and the subsequent course of infection under antiretroviral therapy.

STUDY DESIGN:

Proliferation assays were performed with freshly isolated blood mononuclear cells from 45 chronically HIV-infected HAART treated individuals using HIV-p24, other recall antigens, and mitogens as stimulants. Virus load was monitored at the time of stimulation and during 33 months follow-up.

RESULTS:

A proliferative response to HIV antigen stimulation was detectable in 7 of 45 patients (15.5% responders). This group showed elevated reactions against tetanus toxoid and tuberculin, whereas reactions against standard mitogens were equal in the HIV responder and nonresponder groups. None of the seven HIV-specific responders had a blood virus load rebound of more than 1000 genome copies/ml during follow-up, whereas in 50% of the non-responders higher virus rebounds occurred. CD4 cell levels were slightly higher in the responder group, but mostly independent of virus rebound within the non-responders. Only four patients with high and continuous virus rebound experienced a significant CD4 cell decline.

CONCLUSIONS:

In patients under HAART, HIV-specific proliferative response is frequently related to anamnestic antigen responses and an enduring control of virus replication.

• Authors: J M Mohm, J-A Rump, J Schulte-Mönting, J Schneider
• Journal: Journal of clinical virology : the official publication of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology (J Clin Virol) Vol. 30 Issue 3 Pg. 239-42 (Jul 2004) ISSN: 1386-6532 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 15135742 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• HIV Core Protein p24
• Tetanus Toxoid
• Tuberculin

Topics

• Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
• CD4 Lymphocyte Count
• Chronic Disease
• HIV Core Protein p24 (immunology, pharmacology)
• HIV Infections (drug therapy, immunology, physiopathology)
• HIV-1
• Humans
• Leukocytes, Mononuclear (immunology)
• Lymphocyte Activation (immunology)
• Prognosis
• Tetanus Toxoid (pharmacology)
• Tuberculin (pharmacology)
• Viral Load
• Viremia