HIV Reservoir Decay and CD4 Recovery Associated With High CD8 Counts in Immune Restored Patients on Long-Term ART.

ABSTRACT: Background: Whether varying CD8 counts influence the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reservoir and CD4 restoration in patients with CD4 counts ? 500 cells/?L after long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains unknown. In this study, we analyzed relationships between CD8 levels and viral reservoir decay or CD4 recovery in immune restored patients on long-term ART. Methods: Chronic HIV-infected patients who received 5 years of ART with CD4 counts ? 500 cells/?L were grouped according to CD8 counts: CD8 <500 (Group 1), 500-1,000 (Group 2), and ?1,000 cells/?L (Group 3). CD4 recovery, viral decay, CD8 T-cell function, and their correlations were analyzed during ART among the three groups. Results: Dynamics of viral decay and CD4 recovery were different among the three groups. Both viral decay and CD4 recovery were higher in Group 3 than the other two groups after 5 years of ART, mainly during years 3-5 of ART. Higher expression levels of Ki67 while PD-1 levels were lower on CD8 T-cells in Group 3 compared with the other groups, and Group 3 showed stronger CD8 T-cells functional capacity after 3 years of ART. Reduced HIV DNA levels and increased CD4 counts between years 3 and 5 of ART were positively correlated with CD8 counts and function. Conclusions: High CD8 counts are beneficial for persistent viral decay and CD4 recovery in immune restored patients during long-term ART.

SUBMITTER: Zhang LX 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7390854 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature