CD4 super(+) T-Cell Deficiency in HIV Patients Responding to Antiretroviral Therapy Is Associated With Increased Expression of Interferon-Stimulated Genes in CD4 super(+) T Cells

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases 2011-12, Vol.204 (12), p.1927-1935
• Main Authors: Fernandez, Sonia, Tanaskovic, Sara, Helbig, Karla, Rajasuriar, Reena, Kramski, Marit, Murray, John M, Beard, Michael, Purcell, Damian, Lewin, Sharon R, Price, Patricia, French, Martyn A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Human immunodeficiency virus
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jir659

Most patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who remain CD4 super(+) T-cell deficient on antiretroviral therapy (ART) exhibit marked immune activation. As CD4 super(+) T-cell activation may be mediated by microbial translocation or interferon-alpha (IFN- alpha ), we examined these factors in HIV patients with good or poor CD4 super(+) T-cell recovery on long-term ART. Messenger RNA levels for 3 interferon-stimulated genes were increased in CD4 super(+) T cells of patients with poor CD4 super(+) T-cell recovery, whereas levels in patients with good recovery did not differ from those in healthy controls. Poor CD4 super(+) T-cell recovery was also associated with CD4 super(+) T-cell expression of markers of activation, senescence, and apoptosis, and with increased serum levels of the lipopolysaccharide receptor and soluble CD14, but these were not significantly correlated with expression of the interferon-stimulated genes. Therefore, CD4 super(+) T-cell recovery may be adversely affected by the effects of IFN- alpha , which may be amenable to therapeutic intervention.