Discordant CD4 T lymphocyte responses to antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection are associated with ex-vivo rates of apoptosis

Our purpose was to determine if changes in CD4 cell counts in HIV-infected patients with good viral suppression on stable antiretroviral regimens coul d be predicted by ex-vivo rates of apoptosis of peripheral blood mononuclea r cells (PBMC), Patients were grouped by lowest pre-treatment and highest o n-treatment CD4 cell counts and classified as complete immune responders, p artial responders, or non-responders. Whole blood was collected from a subg roup of patients and controls, and rates of the ex-vivo apoptosis of PBMC w ere assessed. Non-responders exhibited significantly increased apoptosis, w hereas good immune responses were associated with decreased apoptosis. Pers istently accelerated apoptosis may contribute to persisting immune deficien cy independent of the viral load.