Infrequent detection of HIV-1-specific, but not cytomegalovirus-specific, CD8+ T cell responses in young HIV-1-infected infants

ZA Scott, EG Chadwick, LL Gibson… - The Journal of …, 2001 - journals.aai.org
ZA Scott, EG Chadwick, LL Gibson, MD Catalina, MM McManus, R Yogev, P Palumbo…
The Journal of Immunology, 2001journals.aai.org
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 …
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< 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> 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.
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