Limited CD4+ T-cell renewal in early HIV-1 infection: effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Fleury, S; de Boer, R J; Rizzardi, G P; Wolthers, K C; Otto, S A; Welbon, C C; Graziosi, C; Knabenhans, C et al. · Nat Med · 1998

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

We show that the fraction of proliferating CD4+ lymphocytes is similar in HIV-infected subjects in the early stage of disease and in HIV-negative subjects, whereas the fraction of proliferating CD8+ lymphocytes is increased 6.8-fold in HIV-infected subjects. After initiation of antiviral therapy, there is a late increase in proliferating CD4+ T cells associated with the restoration of CD4+ T-cell counts. These results provide strong support for the idea of limited CD4+ T-cell renewal in the early stage of HIV infection and indicate that after effective suppression of virus replication, the mechanisms of CD4+ T-cell production are still functional in early HIV infection.

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