OBJECTIVES:Despite limiting exposure to antiretroviral drugs, structured treatment interruptions can influence multiple aspects of T-cell immunity, particularly those regarding CD4(+) T lymphocytes. We evaluated the impact of CD4-guided treatment interruption (CD4-GTI) and treatment resumption on regulatory T cells (Tregs), T-lymphocyte activation, differentiation and polyfunctional gag-specific response.METHODS:Patients were analyzed just prior to treatment interruption, at 2 and 6 months after treatment interruption, just prior to treatment resumption and at 2 and 6 months after treatment resumption. Thawed peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stained immediately for phenotype analysis or stimulated with HIV-gag peptides and analyzed by polychromatic flow cytometry.RESULTS:Treatment interruption resulted in a CD4(+) cell count decrease and plasma viral load (pVL) increase, but did not preclude a good immune reconstitution and a complete suppression of pVL after treatment resumption. Treatment interruption did not influence CD4(+) T-cell differentiation and Treg subsets. During treatment interruption, gag-specific CD4(+) T cells were not lost, although the frequency of HIV-specific CD8(+) cells increased. Most gag-specific CD4(+) T cells were potentially cytotoxic (CD107a(+)) and were not influenced by pVL or by HAART. Most helper (CD154(+)) gag-specific CD4(+) T lymphocytes did not produce interferon-γ or interleukin-2.CONCLUSION:CD4-GTI did not cause depletion of memory cells, Tregs or HIV-specific CD4(+) cells and, on the contrary, could induce HIV-specific responses. If guided by CD4(+) T-cell count, treatment interruption does not provoke irreversible immune damages.

CD4+ T-cell differentiation, regulatory T cells and gag-specific T lymphocytes are unaffected by CD4-guided treatment interruption and therapy resumption / Nemes, Elisa; Lugli, Enrico; Bertoncelli, Linda; Nasi, Milena; Pinti, Marcello; Manzini, S; Prati, Francesca; Manzini, Lisa; DEL GIOVANE, Cinzia; D'Amico, Roberto; Cossarizza, Andrea; Mussini, Cristina. - In: AIDS. - ISSN 1473-5571. - STAMPA. - 25:(2011), pp. 1443-1453. [10.1097/QAD.0b013e328347b5e2]

CD4+ T-cell differentiation, regulatory T cells and gag-specific T lymphocytes are unaffected by CD4-guided treatment interruption and therapy resumption.

NEMES, Elisa;LUGLI, Enrico;BERTONCELLI, Linda;NASI, Milena;PINTI, Marcello;PRATI, Francesca;MANZINI, Lisa;DEL GIOVANE, Cinzia;D'AMICO, Roberto;COSSARIZZA, Andrea;MUSSINI, Cristina
2011

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:Despite limiting exposure to antiretroviral drugs, structured treatment interruptions can influence multiple aspects of T-cell immunity, particularly those regarding CD4(+) T lymphocytes. We evaluated the impact of CD4-guided treatment interruption (CD4-GTI) and treatment resumption on regulatory T cells (Tregs), T-lymphocyte activation, differentiation and polyfunctional gag-specific response.METHODS:Patients were analyzed just prior to treatment interruption, at 2 and 6 months after treatment interruption, just prior to treatment resumption and at 2 and 6 months after treatment resumption. Thawed peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stained immediately for phenotype analysis or stimulated with HIV-gag peptides and analyzed by polychromatic flow cytometry.RESULTS:Treatment interruption resulted in a CD4(+) cell count decrease and plasma viral load (pVL) increase, but did not preclude a good immune reconstitution and a complete suppression of pVL after treatment resumption. Treatment interruption did not influence CD4(+) T-cell differentiation and Treg subsets. During treatment interruption, gag-specific CD4(+) T cells were not lost, although the frequency of HIV-specific CD8(+) cells increased. Most gag-specific CD4(+) T cells were potentially cytotoxic (CD107a(+)) and were not influenced by pVL or by HAART. Most helper (CD154(+)) gag-specific CD4(+) T lymphocytes did not produce interferon-γ or interleukin-2.CONCLUSION:CD4-GTI did not cause depletion of memory cells, Tregs or HIV-specific CD4(+) cells and, on the contrary, could induce HIV-specific responses. If guided by CD4(+) T-cell count, treatment interruption does not provoke irreversible immune damages.
2011
25
1443
1453
CD4+ T-cell differentiation, regulatory T cells and gag-specific T lymphocytes are unaffected by CD4-guided treatment interruption and therapy resumption / Nemes, Elisa; Lugli, Enrico; Bertoncelli, Linda; Nasi, Milena; Pinti, Marcello; Manzini, S; Prati, Francesca; Manzini, Lisa; DEL GIOVANE, Cinzia; D'Amico, Roberto; Cossarizza, Andrea; Mussini, Cristina. - In: AIDS. - ISSN 1473-5571. - STAMPA. - 25:(2011), pp. 1443-1453. [10.1097/QAD.0b013e328347b5e2]
Nemes, Elisa; Lugli, Enrico; Bertoncelli, Linda; Nasi, Milena; Pinti, Marcello; Manzini, S; Prati, Francesca; Manzini, Lisa; DEL GIOVANE, Cinzia; D'Amico, Roberto; Cossarizza, Andrea; Mussini, Cristina
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