Early highly active antiretroviral therapy for acute HIV-1 infection preserves immune function of CD8+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes.

Journal article

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has been advocated for the management of primary HIV-1 infection without clear understanding of its immunological effects. Here, we demonstrate that early use of HAART during primary infection preserves HIV-specific CD8(+) T cells physically and functionally while HIV-specific T cell help is sustained. We also show that even transient administration of HAART at seroconversion can preserve HIV-specific immunity. In contrast, delayed initiation of HAART is associated with a progressive loss of HIV-specific CD8(+) T cells and absent HIV-specific T cell help. These results imply that HIV-specific T help is damaged during primary HIV-1 infection. Early drug treatment, which preserves this immunity, also preserves HIV-specific CD8(+) T cells. These results have implications for understanding the early pathogenesis of HIV-1 infection and suggest that acute HIV infection should be treated aggressively and as early as possible.

Authors: Oxenius, A; Price, D; Easterbrook, P; O'Callaghan, C; Kelleher, A

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
• Volume: 97
• Issue: 7
• Pages: 3382-3387
• Publication date: 2000-03-01
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.97.7.3382
• EISSN: 1091-6490
• ISSN: 0027-8424
• Language: English
• Keywords: Anti-HIV Agents; Base Sequence; HIV-1; Epitopes; DNA Primers; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; HIV Infections; Humans; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Viral Load; HLA-B8 Antigen; Amino Acid Sequence