HIV-specific immunity during structured antiviral drug treatment interruption

• Published in: Vaccine 2003-03, Vol.21 (11), p.1066-1071
• Main Authors: Moss, Ronald B, Brandt, Carolyn, Giermakowska, Wieslawa K, Savary, Jay R, Theofan, Georgia, Zanetti, Maurizio, Carlo, Dennis J, Wallace, Mark R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: AIDS Vaccines - administration & dosage; AIDS Vaccines - immunology; AIDS Vaccines - therapeutic use; Anti-HIV Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-HIV Agents - therapeutic use; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Antiretroviral agents; Antiretroviral drugs; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Antiviral agents; Beta chemokine; Biological and medical sciences; CD4; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; CD8; Chemokine CCL4; Chromatography; Cohort Studies; Combined Modality Therapy; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug therapy; HIV; HIV Core Protein p24 - blood; HIV Infections - drug therapy; HIV Infections - immunology; HIV-1 - immunology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Human viral diseases; Humans; Immune system; Immunity, Cellular; Immunization; Immunotherapy, Active; Infections; Infectious diseases; Interferon; Interferon-gamma - biosynthesis; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphocytes; Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins - blood; Medical sciences; Peptides; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Plasma; Proteins; Studies; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer - immunology; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Viral Load; Viremia - drug therapy; Viremia - immunology; Viremia - therapy
• ISSN: 0264-410X; 1873-2518
• DOI: 10.1016/S0264-410X(02)00610-2

The immunologic correlates associated with control of viremia in HIV disease are poorly understood. We hypothesized that structured antiviral drug treatment interruptions could be utilized to better understand the relationship between HIV-specific immunity and viral replication. We thus examined the effects of two 8 weeks antiviral structured treatment interruptions (STIs) in a cohort of HIV-1 chronically infected individuals on highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) with ( n=13) and without ( n=12) therapeutic HIV immunizations. In this study, we observed that p24 gag antigen (np24) stimulated MIP-1β levels and T helper immune responses prior to antiviral drug discontinuation were associated with control of viremia. Stronger and earlier production of gag peptide stimulated gamma interferon was observed in the immunized group during the structured antiviral drug interruptions. These results support the concept that HIV-specific immune responses are associated with control of viremia. Further study of immune-based therapies that enhance HIV-specific immunity is warranted.