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9th Annual Conference Of The British HIV Association [BHIVA]24 – 26 April 2003, University of Manchester
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[AUTHOR(S):] A Pires, J Pido-Lopez, GJ Moyle2, BG Gazzard2, FM Gotch1 and N Imami1
1 Department of Immunology, Imperial College, and 2 Department of HIV/GU Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK
BHIVA Conf 2003 Apr 24-26;9:O19
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on the immune system of HIV-1-infected patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).
METHODS: Twelve chronic HIV-1-infected patients on HAART (4 years) received rhGH. Lymphocyte phenotype was assessed at baseline, 12 weeks after 4 mg/day of rhGH and a further 12 weeks after randomisation into three groups (placebo or alternate-day or twice-weekly rhGH). T-cell receptor rearrangement excision circles (TREC) analysis was performed for all time points.
RESULTS: At week 12, a significant increase in memory/effector CD8+ T cells assessed by CD45RA and CCR7 expression, and increases in naïve CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (P<0.01) were observed. In addition, we observed an increase in HIV-1 antigen-specific CD4+ (P<0.005) and CD8+ (P<0.05) T-cell responses. Twelve weeks after initiation of the trial, randomisation into placebo, alternate-day dosing or twice-weekly dosing was instigated. The phenotype and function of the virus-specific effector CD8+ T cells seen at week 12 was maintained at week 24 regardless of randomisation, despite the disappearance of HIV-1- specific CD4+ T-cell responses in all patients. No changes were seen in TREC levels at any time point.
CONCLUSIONS: Concomitant administration of rhGH at 4 mg/day with HAART appears to attenuate the defects exerted on the immune system by HIV-1. This combination may be a valuable immunotherapeutic intervention for chronic HIV-1 infection.
PRESENTING AUTHOR: A Pires
030424
O19
Copyright © 2003 - British HIV Association (BHIVA) Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the BHIVA Organising Secretariat 1 Mountview Court, 310 Friern Barnet Lane, London N20 0LD