[21] IN PATIENTS ON PROLONGED HAART, A SIGNIFICANT PART OF HIV-INFECTED CD4 T CELLS ARE SPECIFIC OF HIV ANTIGENS

1st International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment

Buenos Aires, Argentina - July 8-11, 2001

[TITLE:] IN PATIENTS ON PROLONGED HAART, A SIGNIFICANT PART OF HIV-INFECTED CD4 T CELLS ARE SPECIFIC OF HIV ANTIGENS

[AUTHOR(S):] Taoufik Y, Demoustier A, Lambotte O, Degoer M, Wallon C, Goujard C, Delfraissy J
Lab. Virus, Neurone Et Immunité Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, Val De Marne, France

IAS Conf HIV Pathog Treat 2001 Jul 8-11;1st: Abstract No. 21

[ABSTRACT:] HAART allows the reduction of plasma HIV RNA to undetectable levels for prolonged periods in many patients. In such patients, HIV-1 can persist in CD4 T cells known as HIV reservoir cells. It has also been shown, in these patients, the persistence of residual viral replication, whose origins remain unclear. Here, we examined, in patients on prolonged HAART, phenotypic features (CD45RA, CD45RO, CD62L) and antigen specificity of HIV-infected T cells. We also investigated, in these patients, the presence of residual HIV replication.

Methods: Antigen specificity of HIV-infected T cells was investigated by the detection of HIV RNA in supernatants following serial dilutions of HIV p24+Nef-, tuberculin- or CMV-activated PBMCs. Residual virus replication was detected by using a quantitative PCR method based on the detection and quantification of labile episomal HIV DNA. We also examined the presence of HIV gp120 mRNA.

Results: Replication competent HIV was detected in CD4 T cells in the 12 patients tested. A similar level of HIV DNA was found in CD45RO+ CD62L+, CD45RO+ CD62L- and CD45 RA+ CD62L+ CD4 T cells. A significantly lower level of virus was found in CD45 RA+ CD62L- CD4 T cells. In all patients tested, the frequency of HIV specificity among infected T cells was significantly higher than that of CMV or tuberculin. Episomal HIV DNA and HIV gp120 mRNA were found in CD4 T cells in 5 and 9 of 12 patients tested, respectively. Episomal HIV DNA and HIV gp120 mRNA were detected predominantly in CD45 RA+ and CD45RO+ CD4 T cells, respectively.

Conclusions: Altogether, these results suggest the presence of a significant pool of HIV-specific T cells among HIV-infected cells in patients on prolonged HAART. These cells may correspond to HIV latently infected long-lived T cells ‘’ the reservoir cells’ and/or recently infected cells.

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