Changes in frequency of HIV-1-specific cytotoxic T cell precursors and circulating effectors after combination antiretroviral therapy in children

Citation
Hml. Spiegel et al., Changes in frequency of HIV-1-specific cytotoxic T cell precursors and circulating effectors after combination antiretroviral therapy in children, J INFEC DIS, 180(2), 1999, pp. 359-368
Citations number
44
Categorie Soggetti
Clinical Immunolgy & Infectious Disease",Immunology
Journal title
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
ISSN journal
00221899 → ACNP
Volume
180
Issue
2
Year of publication
1999
Pages
359 - 368
Database
ISI
SICI code
0022-1899(199908)180:2<359:CIFOHC>2.0.ZU;2-F
Abstract
Combination antiretroviral therapy has had a major role in reducing human i mmunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) plasma viral loads in HIV-1-infected a dults but a variable effect in infants, in whom complete viral suppression appears to be less readily achieved. In adults, after the reduction in plas ma viremia, there is a decrease in the numbers of circulating cytotoxic T c ell (CTL) effecters and precursors in the majority of patients. This longit udinal study assessed the effect of combination drug therapy on the frequen cy of HIV-1-specific CTL responses in 8 HIV-1-infected children. Following treatment, the frequency of HIV-1-specific CTL responses initially increase d, especially in children with incomplete viral suppression but with increa sing CD4(+) cell counts. In children with complete viral suppression, the f requency of HIV-1-specific CTL responses decreased, suggesting that viral r eplication is required to maintain CTL responses in the systemic circulatio n.