Abstract
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.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Scandinavian Journal of Immunology |
| Volume | 49 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| Pages (from-to) | 539-47 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| ISSN | 0300-9475 |
| Publication status | Published - May 1999 |
Keywords
- Adult
- Aged
- Anti-HIV Agents
- Antigens, CD
- CD4 Lymphocyte Count
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- HIV Infections
- HIV Protease Inhibitors
- HIV-1
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Prospective Studies
- Ritonavir
- Viral Load
- Journal Article
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
