Gomez FA, Romero SP, Bernal JA, Ruiz P, Rosety M, Garcia-Gil D, Rivera C; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).

Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. MoPeA3062.

Hospital Universitario Puerto Real, Department of Medicine, University of Cadiz, Cadiz, Spain

Background: Immune reconstitution is one of the goals of HIV treatment. IL-7 is critical for thymopoiesis and for the regulation of T cells in the periphery. An inverse correlation has been reported between plasma IL-7 and CD4 count, suggesting that IL-7 may be a part of the compensatory mechanisms of CD4 depletion. Objectives: We have performed a prospective study to assess whether, high levels of IL-7 prior to HAART may contribute to immune reconstitution and to the increased CD4 count associated with this treatment in a cohort of 48 naive patients before HAART (M0), then at 6 (M6), 12 (M12) and 24 (M24) months while on HAART. Methods: Naive CD4 cells were identified by double expression of CD45RA/CD621, and functionality by CD28. Activation markers of CD8 cells were HLADR and CD38. Results: Viral load (pVL SD) at M0 (236,124 2,189 copies/mL) became undetectable (<50 copies/mL) at M6, M12 and M24. Increases of CD4 cells were very heterogeneous (from 112 to 865 cells/mL). CD4 counts (SD) increased from 178 69 at M0 to 239 98 at M6, 354 130 at M12 and 489 227 at M24. Levels of IL-7 were elevated at M0 (11.5 12.8 pg/mL) in comparison to a witness group of non-HIV infected patients (1.7 1.1 pg/mL; p<0.001), and progressively decreased during HAART to 3.9 5.2 pg/mL at M24 (p<0.0001). An inverse significant correlation was observed between plasma IL-7 and CD4 count during HAART (r = -0.879; p<0.001). Patients presented a persistent hyperactivity of CD8CD38 cells, more naive CD4 cells and, a decreased functionality of CD4 cells (p<0.003), that became non significant at M24. Conclusions: Immune reconstitution is feasible in patients with sustained plasma RNA undetectability. IL-7 levels may predict CD4 recovery during HAART.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• ADP-ribosyl Cyclase
• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Antigens, CD
• Antigens, CD28
• Antigens, CD4
• Antigens, CD45
• Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
• CD4 Lymphocyte Count
• CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes
• CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
• HIV Infections
• Humans
• Interleukin-7
• Prospective Studies
• T-Lymphocytes
• Viral Load
• immunology
• methods

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0035151

UI: 102279367

From Meeting Abstracts