Immunological changes in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals during HIV-specific protease inhibitor treatment

TY - JOUR

T1 - Immunological changes in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals during HIV-specific protease inhibitor treatment

AU - Ullum, H

AU - Katzenstein, T

AU - Aladdin, H

AU - Nielsen, C

AU - Sondergaard, S R

AU - Gerstoft, J

AU - Skinhoj, P

AU - Pedersen, Bente Klarlund

PY - 1999/5

Y1 - 1999/5

N2 - The present study examines the influence of effective anti-retroviral treatment on immune function, evaluated by a broad array of immunological tests. We followed 12 individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) for 6 months after initiation of combination anti-retroviral treatment including a protease inhibitor. Unstimulated and pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-, interleukin (IL)-2- and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated lymphocyte proliferative responses increased during follow-up reaching average levels from 1.3-fold (PHA) to 3.7-fold (PWM) above baseline values. The total CD4+ lymphocyte count increased mainly due to increases in numbers of CD4+ CD28+ and CD4+ CD45RO+ cells, whereas increases in numbers of CD4+ CD45RA+ cells contributed little to the increase in CD4+ cell count. The total cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) killing of autologous B cells infected with HIV-encoding recombinant Vaccinia virus was increased after 3-6 months, whereas the specific HIV-directed CTL activity and the concentration and lytic activity of natural killer (NK) cells were unchanged during follow-up. These results demonstrate that the initiation of a treatment including an HIV protease inhibitor is followed by an increase in lymphocyte proliferation and lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity. However, unchanged levels of specific HIV CTL and NK cell activity warn us that not all measures of immune function may respond simultaneously to anti-retroviral treatment.

AB - The present study examines the influence of effective anti-retroviral treatment on immune function, evaluated by a broad array of immunological tests. We followed 12 individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) for 6 months after initiation of combination anti-retroviral treatment including a protease inhibitor. Unstimulated and pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-, interleukin (IL)-2- and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated lymphocyte proliferative responses increased during follow-up reaching average levels from 1.3-fold (PHA) to 3.7-fold (PWM) above baseline values. The total CD4+ lymphocyte count increased mainly due to increases in numbers of CD4+ CD28+ and CD4+ CD45RO+ cells, whereas increases in numbers of CD4+ CD45RA+ cells contributed little to the increase in CD4+ cell count. The total cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) killing of autologous B cells infected with HIV-encoding recombinant Vaccinia virus was increased after 3-6 months, whereas the specific HIV-directed CTL activity and the concentration and lytic activity of natural killer (NK) cells were unchanged during follow-up. These results demonstrate that the initiation of a treatment including an HIV protease inhibitor is followed by an increase in lymphocyte proliferation and lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity. However, unchanged levels of specific HIV CTL and NK cell activity warn us that not all measures of immune function may respond simultaneously to anti-retroviral treatment.

KW - Adult

KW - Aged

KW - Anti-HIV Agents

KW - Antigens, CD

KW - CD4 Lymphocyte Count

KW - CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes

KW - Female

KW - Follow-Up Studies

KW - HIV Infections

KW - HIV Protease Inhibitors

KW - HIV-1

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Prospective Studies

KW - Ritonavir

KW - Viral Load

KW - Journal Article

KW - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 10320648

SN - 0301-6323

VL - 49

SP - 539

EP - 547

JO - Scandinavian Journal of Immunology, Supplement

JF - Scandinavian Journal of Immunology, Supplement

IS - 5

ER -