Differential dynamics of Epstein-Barr virus in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus-1 receiving intermittent interleukin-2 and antiretroviral therapy

• Published in: Haematologica (Roma) 2006-02, Vol.91 (2), p.244-247
• Main Authors: Burighel, N, Ghezzi, S, Nozza, S, Del Bianco, P, Lazzarin, A, Tambussi, G, Poli, G, De Rossi, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Retroviral Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - virology; DNA, Viral - blood; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - drug therapy; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Herpesvirus 4, Human; HIV-1; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Interleukin-2 - administration & dosage; Medical sciences; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Viral Load
• ISSN: 0390-6078; 1592-8721

Department of Oncology and Surgical Sciences, Section of Oncology, AIDS Reference Center, University of Padova, Italy. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) increases circulating CD4(+) lymphocytes in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus-1. We studied Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) dynamics in 40 patients treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART) plus different IL-2 regimens. EBV-DNA tended to increase in both peripheral blood cells and plasma after continous infusion followed by intermittent subcutaneous high-dose IL-2, while EBV-DNA decreased in cells (p=0.0078) and disappeared in plasma after intermittent subcutaneous low-dose IL-2. Over 12 months, the dynamics of EBV differed between the two groups both in cells (p=0.0184) and plasma (p=0.0114). Thus, as a function of dose, IL-2 therapy may significantly affect the dynamics of EBV infection.