Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Type 1 Specific Cellular Immunity in Chronic Infected Patients on Prolonged Highly Active Antiretroviral Treatment and on Structured Treatment Interruption

• Published in: Microbiology and immunology 2006-01, Vol.50 (8), p.629-635
• Main Authors: Matsuda, Reikei, Boström, Ann-Charlotte, Fredriksson, Malin, Fredriksson, Eva-Lena, Bratt, Göran, Hejdeman, Bo, Sandström, Eric, Okuda, Kenji, Wahren, Britta
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-HIV Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-HIV Agents - therapeutic use; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active - methods; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; cellular immunity; Drug Administration Schedule; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Gene Products, nef - immunology; Gene Products, tat - immunology; HAART; HIV Core Protein p24 - immunology; HIV Infections - drug therapy; HIV Infections - immunology; HIV-1; HIV-1 - immunology; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Interferon-gamma - immunology; Lymphocyte Activation; nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; STI; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; Viral Load
• ISSN: 0385-5600; 1348-0421
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1348-0421.2006.tb03838.x

We have followed 15 HIV‐1 chronically infected patients during prolonged highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) and subsequent long term structured treatment interruption (STI). We analyzed Nef, Tat, and p24 specific cellular immunity using IFN‐γ enzyme‐linked immunospot assays and T cell proliferation assays. Eight HAART patients showed IFN‐γ responses to at least one antigen, but no positive responses were seen during STI. We observed retained or increased p24 specific IFN‐γ responses in most patients during HAART with viral suppression. These results showed persisting HIV‐1 specific cellular immunity during HAART; however, in prolonged STI with viral rebound this immunity declined.