AEGiS-15IAC: Innate immunity restoration in patients with HIV/AIDS infection associated with antiretroviral therapy.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Innate immunity restoration in patients with HIV/AIDS infection associated with antiretroviral therapy.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. A10225)

Raby P, Afani A, Puente J, Lanza P, Sepulveda C, Miranda D, Jiusan L
University of Chile Clinical Hospital, Santiago, Chile

BACKGROUND: Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in HIV/AIDS infection induces an important reduction of the viral load (VL) and an immune system reconstitution. CD4+ T lymphocytes count is the immunological measurement commonly used for the following in HIV/AIDS patients. Our aim is to study the restoration of the innate immune system in a prospective manner in patients with HIV/AIDS infection during their first year on HAART.

METHODS: 25 naïve HIV/AIDS patients, from San Jose Hospital and University of Chile Clinical Hospital, Santiago, Chile, were studied between years 2002-2003. Every 4 months after HAART initiation, determination by flow cytometry were made of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ T lymphocytes and NK cells CD16/56+. Arrays were made of NK cells cytotoxicity through radioactive chrome liberation (Cr51), TNF-ialpha and IL-10 PCR quantification, and VL determination (Amplicor HIV-1 from Roche Diagnostics Systems).

RESULTS: 13 of 25 patients continued in the study. They were all males, average age 35 years old (23-50), average CD4+ count 146 cells/muL (31-362) and VL average 82000 copies/mL (4000-290000). A raise in the CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD16/56+ was noted at months 9-12 of therapy. VL was undetectable at months 9-12. NK cell function was decreased at the beginning of the therapy (1-4 months), reaching its highest values at months 9-12. There was no significant change in relation with IL-10, however a TNF-ialpha raise was observed over the study.

CONCLUSIONS: This is the first Chilean study of innate immunity restoration. It is important to highlight the restoration of the innate immunity associated with HAART, since most studies address specific immunity. More studies are required on cytokines secretion such as IL-10, TNF-ialpha, MIP-1ialpha, MIP-1[beta and RANTES.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, Tumor Necrosis Factors, Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active, HIV-1, Viral Load, CD4 Lymphocyte Count, Infection, Communicable Diseases, CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes, CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes, Antigens, CD4, Chile, Humans, Male, therapy, immunology, drug therapy

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A10225