Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date. I work as a peer educator at a local health department. I assist other HIV+ individuals with education on HIV to empower them to take charge of their lives and healthcare.
I heard something today from another peer that I wanted to see if it was correct...He stated that once your cd4 cells are depleted and your immune system begins to rebuild after starting HIV therapy that you have an artificial immune system because it is not the one you were born with. Is this true? My thoughts are cd4 cells reproduce during your lifetime as cells do. I assume they have a lifespan or cycle they complete. I guess old cells die and new cells continue the work. I dont want this guy giving out incorrect information to anybody.
Marty Markowitz, M. D.
Clinical Director
Staff Investigator, Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center
Associate Professor, Rockefeller University
The nature of immune reconstitution is complicated, however, the statement made here is false.
The immune system has multiple arms; capable of mounting a response to infinite pathogens.
In the presence of HIV infection there are multiple derangements caused by the presence of virus and immune activation. When treatment is successful many of the processes that result in immune depletion are reversed. The immune system one is born with and adapts during the lifetime of the host is restored.
This said, the host's immune response is thus better equipped to meet the challenge of new pathogens as well as those previously seen; this correlates well with the clinical outcome of HAART.
The immune system that is restored with HAART is native to the host, not artificial, and apparently quite effective, given the tremendous effects that HAART has had on the prevalence of AIDS defining infections and HIV-related mortality.
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