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Early and Prolonged Antiretroviral Therapy Is Associated with an HIV-1-Specific T-Cell Profile Comparable to That of Long-Term Non-Progressors
- Source :
- Plos One, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. e18164, PLOS ONE, Vol. 6, No 4 (2011) P. e18164, PLoS ONE, Vol 6, Iss 4, p e18164 (2011), PLoS ONE
- Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- BackgroundIntervention with antiretroviral treatment (ART) and control of viral replication at the time of HIV-1 seroconversion may curtail cumulative immunological damage. We have therefore hypothesized that ART maintenance over a very prolonged period in HIV-1 seroconverters could induce an immuno-virological status similar to that of HIV-1 long-term non-progressors (LTNPs).Methodology/principal findingsWe have investigated a cohort of 20 HIV-1 seroconverters on long-term ART (LTTS) and compared it to one of 15 LTNPs. Residual viral replication and reservoirs in peripheral blood, as measured by cell-associated HIV-1 RNA and DNA, respectively, were demonstrated to be similarly low in both cohorts. These two virologically matched cohorts were then comprehensively analysed by polychromatic flow cytometry for HIV-1-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell functional profile in terms of cytokine production and cytotoxic capacity using IFN-γ, IL-2, TNF-α production and perforin expression, respectively. Comparable levels of highly polyfunctional HIV-1-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cells were found in LTTS and LTNPs, with low perforin expression on HIV-1-specific CD8(+) T-cells, consistent with a polyfunctional/non-cytotoxic profile in a context of low viral burden.ConclusionsOur results indicate that prolonged ART initiated at the time of HIV-1 seroconversion is associated with immuno-virological features which resemble those of LTNPs, strengthening the recent emphasis on the positive impact of early treatment initiation and paving the way for further interventions to promote virological control after treatment interruption.
- Subjects :
- Male
Time Factors
T-Lymphocytes
HIV Infections
Virus Replication
gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Cohort Studies
Epitopes
Immune Response
ddc:616
Multidisciplinary
biology
T Cells
Middle Aged
Antivirals
Viral Persistence and Latency
AIDS
CD4 Antigens
Infectious diseases
Medicine
Female
Viral load
Research Article
Adult
Genotype
Anti-HIV Agents
Immune Cells
CD8 Antigens
Science
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Retrovirology and HIV immunopathogenesis
Context (language use)
Viremia
Viral diseases
Microbiology
HIV Long-Term Survivors
Species Specificity
Virology
medicine
Humans
Seroconversion
Biology
Immunity to Infections
Aged
Perforin
Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
Immunity
HIV
medicine.disease
Gene Expression Regulation
Viral replication
Immunology
HIV-1
biology.protein
Clinical Immunology
CD8
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19326203
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Plos One, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. e18164, PLOS ONE, Vol. 6, No 4 (2011) P. e18164, PLoS ONE, Vol 6, Iss 4, p e18164 (2011), PLoS ONE
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....de24c896aeeb19d2c8d552b1bc480b9a