LIMITED CD4(-CELL RENEWAL IN EARLY HIV-1 INFECTION - EFFECT OF HIGHLY-ACTIVE ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY() T)

We show that the fraction of proliferating CD4(+) lymphocytes is simil ar in HIV-infected subjects in the early stage of disease and in HIV-n egative subjects, whereas the fraction of proliferating CD8(+) lymphoc ytes is increased 6.8-fold in HIV-infected subjects. After initiation of antiviral therapy, there is a late increase in proliferating CD4(+) T cells associated with the restoration of CD4(+) T-cell counts. Thes e results provide strong support for the idea of limited CD4(+) T-cell renewal in the early stage of HIV infection and indicate that after e ffective suppression of virus replication, the mechanisms of CD4(+) T- cell production are still functional in early HIV infection.