In:
The Journal of Immunology, The American Association of Immunologists, Vol. 167, No. 12 ( 2001-12-15), p. 7134-7140
Abstract:
Early potent combination antiretroviral therapies (ART) for HIV-1 infection can preserve or restore immune function, but control of viral replication early in infection may interfere with the development of HIV-1-specific immune responses. Using an IFN-γ ELISPOT assay, we evaluated the breadth and intensity of HIV-1-specific CD8+ T cell responses in 17 vertically infected infants who began ART at 1–23 mo of age. CMV-specific responses were also characterized in three infants coinfected with HIV-1 and CMV. Before ART, HIV-1-specific CD8+ T cell responses were detected in two of 13 (15%) infants & lt;6 mo of age. HIV-1-specific CD8+ T cells became undetectable in these two infants after the control of viral replication. Intermittent HIV-1-specific responses were noted in six infants who did not experience durable control of viral replication. In contrast, HIV-1-specific responses were detected before ART in four of four infants & gt;6 mo of age and became persistently undetectable in only one child. CMV-specific CD8+ T cell responses were persistently detected in all HIV-1 and CMV coinfected infants. In conclusion, HIV-1-specific CD8+ T cell responses were less commonly detected before therapy in young infants than in older infants. Suppression of viral replication appeared to interfere with the development and maintenance of HIV-1-specific CD8+ T cell responses. The detection of CMV-specific responses in HIV-1 and CMV coinfected infants suggests a selective defect in the generation or maintenance of HIV-1-specific CD8+ T cell responses. Therapeutic HIV-1 vaccine strategies in young infants may prolong the clinical benefit of ART by expanding the HIV-1-specific CD8+ T cell pool.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0022-1767
,
1550-6606
DOI:
10.4049/jimmunol.167.12.7134
Language:
English
Publisher:
The American Association of Immunologists
Publication Date:
2001
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1475085-5
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