T-cell receptor excisional circles, telomere length, proliferation and apoptosis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals after 18 months of treatment induced viral suppression

H Aladdin, T Katzenstein, A.-M. Dreves, L Ryder, J Gerstoft, P Skinhøj, Bente Klarlund Pedersen, H Ullum

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-induced viral suppression on T-cell receptor excisional circles (TRECs), telomere length, proliferative responses and spontaneous as well as phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated lymphocyte apoptosis in 27 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals followed for 18 months during HAART. Our results show that HAART significantly increased the level of TRECs in CD4+ cells (P = 0.003) after 18 months of almost continuously suppressed HIV-RNA levels. Lymphocyte proliferative responses and apoptosis levels in patients were significantly lower and significantly higher, respectively, compared with healthy controls. The proliferative response and apoptosis levels did not change during follow up. Changes in telomere length were observed in CD4+ and in CD8+ T cells. The study demonstrated that HAART induces normal TREC levels in the CD4+ T-cell pool. However, the other perturbed functions in T cells indicate that immune reconstitution is incomplete and may need longer viral suppression.

Original languageEnglish
JournalScandinavian Journal of Immunology
Volume57
Issue number5
Pages (from-to)485-92
Number of pages8
ISSN0300-9475
Publication statusPublished - May 2003

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
  • Apoptosis
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
  • DNA
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gene Rearrangement, alpha-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor
  • Gene Rearrangement, beta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor
  • HIV Infections
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Plasmids
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta
  • Telomere
  • Viral Load
  • Journal Article

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