Adoptive transfer of costimulated CD4+ T cells induces expansion of peripheral T cells and decreased CCR5 expression in HIV infection

BL Levine, WB Bernstein, NE Aronson, K Schlienger… - Nature medicine, 2002 - nature.com
BL Levine, WB Bernstein, NE Aronson, K Schlienger, J Cotte, S Perfetto, MJ Humphries…
Nature medicine, 2002nature.com
To study the safety and feasibility of T-cell reconstitution in HIV-infected individuals, we
adoptively transferred activated autologous CD4+ T cells. Polyclonal peripheral blood CD4+
cells were costimulated ex vivo and subjects were given infusions of up to 3× 1010 activated
CD4+ cells. Dose-dependent increases in CD4+ cell counts and in the CD4: CD8 ratio were
observed. Sustained increases in the fraction of cytokine-secreting T cells and decreases in
the percentage of CD4+ CCR5+ cells were noted in vivo, suggesting enhanced function and …
Abstract
To study the safety and feasibility of T-cell reconstitution in HIV-infected individuals, we adoptively transferred activated autologous CD4+ T cells. Polyclonal peripheral blood CD4+ cells were costimulated ex vivo and subjects were given infusions of up to 3 × 1010 activated CD4+ cells. Dose-dependent increases in CD4+ cell counts and in the CD4:CD8 ratio were observed. Sustained increases in the fraction of cytokine-secreting T cells and decreases in the percentage of CD4+CCR5+ cells were noted in vivo, suggesting enhanced function and resistance to HIV infection. The frequency of CD4+Ki-67+ cells increased whereas CD4+ T cells containing T cell–receptor rearrangement excision circles (TRECs) decreased. These findings indicate that expansion of the peripheral T-cell pool mediated the increase in CD4 counts and suggest that approaches to reconstitute CD4 helper cell activity and decrease CCR5 expression may augment natural immunity to HIV infection.
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