Abstract | BACKGROUND: METHODS: Ten chronically HIV-infected adults were enrolled in this proof of concept study. After a 6-month HAART intensification phase with didanosine, hydroxyurea, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, ( GM-CSF), and a first dose of Remune (HIV-1 Immunogen), HAART was discontinued. Patients continued to receive Remune every 3 months until the end of study. HAART was restarted if viral load did not fall below 50,000 copies/ml of plasma within 3 months or if CD4+ counts decreased to <200 cells/mm3. HIV-specific immunity was monitored with the interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) ELISPOT assay. RESULTS: All subjects experienced viral rebound during TIs. Although the magnitude and breadth of HIV-specific responses to HLA-restricted optimal peptide panels and Gag p55 peptide pools increased and viral load decreased by 0.44 log10 units from TI#1 to TI#2, no significant correlations between these parameters were observed. The patients spent 50.4% of their 36 months follow up off HAART. CONCLUSION: Stopping HAART in this vaccinated population induced immune responses that persisted after therapy was restarted. Induction of HIV-specific immunity beyond IFN-gamma secretion may be contributing to better control of viremia during subsequent TIs allowing for long periods off HAART.
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Authors | Kenneth H Huang, Marie-Pierre Boisvert, Famane Chung, Maude Loignon, Don Zarowny, Lise Cyr, Emil Toma, Nicole F Bernard |
Journal | Journal of immune based therapies and vaccines
(J Immune Based Ther Vaccines)
Vol. 4
Pg. 7
(Nov 28 2006)
ISSN: 1476-8518 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 17132168
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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