Relationship between changes in thymic emigrants and cell-associated HIV-1 DNA in HIV-1-infected children initiating antiretroviral therapy

OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: To investigate the relationship between cell-associated HIV-1 dynamics and recent thymic T-cell emigrants, HIV-1 DNA and T-cell receptor rearrangement excision circles (TREC, a marker of recent thymic emigrants) were measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in 181 samples from 33 HIV-1-infected children followed for 96 weeks after antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation. RESULTS: At baseline, HIV-1 DNA was higher in children with higher TREC (P=0.02) and was not related to age, CD4 or HIV-1 RNA in multivariate analyses (P>0.3). Overall, TREC increased and HIV-1 DNA decreased significantly after ART initiation, with faster HIV-1 DNA declines in children with higher baseline TREC (P=0.009). The greatest decreases in HIV-1 DNA occurred in children with the smallest increases in TREC levels during ART (P=0.002). However, this inverse relationship between changes in HIV-1 DNA and TREC tended to vary according to the phase of HIV-1 RNA decline (P=0.13); for the same increase in TREC, HIV-1 DNA decline was much smaller during persistent or transient viraemia compared with stable HIV-1 RNA suppression. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, these findings indicate that TREC levels predict HIV-1 DNA response to ART and suggest that immune repopulation by thymic emigrants adversely affects HIV-1 DNA decline in the absence of persistent viral suppression, possibly by providing a cellular source for viral infection and replication.     

HIV infection

HIV infection can cause the destruction of cellular immunity. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has strong effects to HIV-1 and usually consists of three to four anti-HIV-1 drugs. HAART has caused dramatic change of prognoses in HIV-1 patients. But HAART has several problems to be overcome. IFN-alpha/beta also has anti-HIV-1 effects and single usage of IFN can cause reduction of plasma HIV RNA viral load with about 1 log10 copies/ml after two to eight weeks. IFN can function as an additional anti-HIV-1 drug experimentally, especially to primary or early phase patients and patients with multiple drug resistances.     

HIV-1 RNA levels in the cerebrospinal fluid may increase owing to damage to the blood-brain barrier

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA can be detected in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 75-90% of all HIV-infected patients. However, it is not yet known which factors influence the amount of HIV-1 in the CSF, either qualitatively or quantitatively. We have analysed HIV-1 RNA in CSF samples from 24 HIV-infected patients using zidovudine who underwent lumbar puncture in order to establish a diagnosis for a neurological disorder. Several factors were examined for possible correlation with the amount of HIV-1 RNA in the CSF: age, gender, the medical indication for lumbar puncture, the most recent CD4 cell count in blood, zidovudine dose, duration of treatment with zidovudine, the zidovudine concentration in plasma and CSF, and the total protein concentration in plasma and CSF. The only statistically significant factor was the total protein level in the CSF, which showed a positive relation with the amount of HIV-1 RNA in the CSF. This study indicates that increased levels of HIV-1 RNA in the CSF of neurologically symptomatic patients are the result of damage to the blood-brain barrier.     

Cerebrospinal fluid viral loads reach less than 2 copies/ml in HIV-1-infected patients with effective antiretroviral therapy

BACKGROUND: A low-grade persisting viraemia despite long-term treatment with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has previously been demonstrated in HIV-1-infected patients. Whether ongoing viral replication also could be detected in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in those circumstances has not been studied before. METHODS: Paired CSF and blood samples from 13 neurologically asymptomatic HIV-1-infected patients on stable HAART were analysed regarding HIV-1 RNA, by using a PCR assay with a detection limit of 2 copies/ml. RESULTS: All 13 patients had HIV-1 RNA < 2 copies/ml in CSF, compared with 8/13 in plasma. CONCLUSION: We could not demonstrate any persistent viral replication in the CSF of neurologically asymptomatic HIV-1-infected patients on effective HAART, rendering it unlikely that CSF acts as a viral reservoir in this category of patients.     

Highly active antiretroviral therapy versus zidovudine/nevirapine effects on early breast milk HIV type-1 Rna: a phase II randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND: Defining the effect of antiretroviral regimens on breast milk HIV type-1 (HIV-1) levels is useful to inform the rational design of strategies to decrease perinatal HIV-1 transmission. METHODS: Pregnant HIV-1 seropositive women (CD4+ T-cell count >250 and <500 cells/mm3) electing to breastfeed in Nairobi, Kenya were randomized to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART; zidovudine [ZDV], lamivudine and nevirapine [NVP]) during pregnancy and 6 months post-partum or to short-course ZDV plus single-dose NVP (ZDV/NVP). Breast milk samples were collected two to three times per week in the first month post-partum. RESULTS: Between November 2003 and April 2006, 444 breast milk samples were collected from 58 randomized women during the first month after delivery. Between 3 and 14 days post-partum, women in the HAART and ZDV/NVP arms had a similar prevalence of undetectable breast milk HIV-1 RNA. From 15 to 28 days post-partum, women in the HAART arm had significantly lower levels of breast milk HIV-1 RNA than women randomized to ZDV/NVP (1.7 log10 copies/ml [limit of detection] versus >2.10 log10 copies/ml, P<0.001). In contrast to breast milk HIV-1 RNA, suppression of plasma HIV-1 RNA during the neonatal period was consistently several log10 greater in the HAART arm compared with the ZDV/NVP arm. CONCLUSIONS: HAART resulted in lower breast milk HIV-1 RNA than ZDV/NVP; however, ZDV/NVP yielded comparable breast milk HIV-1 RNA levels in the first 2 weeks post-partum. Breast milk HIV-1 RNA remained suppressed in the ZDV/NVP arm despite increased plasma HIV-1 levels, which might reflect local drug effects or compartmentalization.     

Lack of good correlation of serum CC-chemokine levels with human immunodeficiency virus-1 disease stage and response to treatment

Three CC-chemokines-MIP-1alpha (CCL3), MIP-1beta (CCL4), and RANTES (CCL5)-are natural ligands for the human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) coreceptor CCR5. To determine correlations between CC-chemokines and HIV-1 disease stage or response to treatment, we examined serum levels of MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta, and RANTES in 60 infected patients during 18 months while they were taking highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Our results demonstrate that serum levels of MIP-1alpha and RANTES were increased in HIV-1-infected individuals compared with those in healthy controls. We found no significant differences among 4 clinical stages of HIV-1 infection in the serum levels of three CC-chemokines. Longitudinal HAART analyses revealed a pronounced decline in serum MIP-1alpha levels over time. We found no difference in this decline between HAART responders and nonresponders. These findings indicate that production of MIP-1alpha and RANTES changes during HIV-1 infection and treatment; however, our results suggest that serum levels of CC-chemokines should not be used as biomarkers for HIV-1 disease stage or response to treatment.     

Utility of an HIV-1 RNA assay in the diagnosis of acute retroviral syndrome

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) begun during primary infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) can preserve immune function and may alter the long-term clinical course of HIV-1 infection. To diagnose primary HIV-1 infection (PHI) early, when screening serologies may yield negative or indeterminate results, the Department of Health and Human Services recommends the use of an HIV-1 RNA assay for at-risk patients suspected of having acute retroviral syndrome (ARS). Because of the RNA assay's 1.9% to 3.0% false-positive rate, results must be carefully interpreted and compared to HIV-1 viral load levels seen during proven HIV-1 seroconversion. We report the case of a sexually active woman with symptoms suggestive of ARS who had a false-positive HIV-1 RNA assay result. We discuss use and interpretation of the HIV-1 RNA assay in diagnosing PHI.     

HIV-associated nephropathy: epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and management

HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) is the most well-known and aggressive kidney disease in HIV-1-infected patients. A variant of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, it is characterized by the collapse of the glomerular tuft with podocyte hypertrophy/hyperplasia and foot process effacement, often with concurrent tubular microcystic dilation and tubulointerstitial nephritis. The disease has been intimately linked to the direct effect of HIV-1 on the kidney. It affects patients of African descent exclusively and is manifested by an acute decline in kidney function, most often in conjunction with high-grade proteinuria and uncontrolled HIV-1 infection. With the widespread use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), its prevalence is declining in Western countries. However, the epidemiology of the disease is not well defined in the poorest areas of the world, which bear a disproportionate share of the HIV-1 epidemic burden. Scientific evidence suggests that HAART can prevent the development of HIVAN. Furthermore, HAART, corticosteroids and inhibition of the renin-angiotensin axis are potentially helpful in delaying disease progression, as well as the need for renal replacement therapy.     

Anti-IFN alpha immunization raises the IFN alpha-neutralizing capacity of serum--an adjuvant to antiretroviral tritherapy.

HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy) suppresses but does not eradicate HIV-1 infection. However, since the antiretroviral agents used in HAART may also be toxic in the long-term, immunotherapies which correct HIV-1 immunosuppression or the cytokine dysregulation associated with it may be beneficial. In this respect, a double blind multicentric placebo-controlled phase II/III anti-IFN alpha vaccine trial has been carried out on 242 HIV-1 patients, the majority of whom were undergoing HAART treatment. In vaccinated patients (vaccinees) who responded to immunization by increased levels of IFN alpha Abs (whether under HAART or not) when compared to placebo or non-responder vaccinees, a strong correlation was found between an increased IFN alpha neutralizing capacity and the reduction of clinical manifestations.     

A patient with primary human immunodeficiency virus infection for whom highly active antiretroviral therapy was successful

 We report the case of a 25-year-old male Japanese homosexual with primary human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infection and early stage syphilis. Approximately 60 days after HIV exposure by sex with another man, the patient abruptly had high fever, after which he experienced a variety of severe, prolonged symptoms such as painful oral mucosa ulcerations, rash, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, and a 5.5-kg weight loss. Serum lactate dehydrogenase and liver biochemical test values were elevated. Antibodies to HIV by both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot (WB) test were negative at the time of symptom onset, but serum HIV-1 RNA level was 1 585 000 copies/ml. Antibody seroconversions were found on day 9 after the onset of symptoms by ELISA and on day 16 by WB test, suggesting primary HIV infection. Within 2 weeks of starting highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), all symptoms except lymphadenopathy were resolved, and the serum HIV-1 RNA level dramatically decreased to 5011 copies/ml, eventually becoming undetectable by the standard method. The patient has remained asymptomatic for the 18 months since symptom resolution after HAART, and HIV-1 RNA remains undetectable. Received: January 15, 2002 / Accepted: July 24, 2002     

HIV-1–specific immune responses in subjects who temporarily contain virus replication after discontinuation of highly active antiretroviral therapy

Therapeutic intervention with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can lead to suppression of HIV-1 plasma viremia to undetectable levels for 3 or more years. However, adherence to complex drug regimens can prove problematic, and subjects may temporarily discontinue HAART for variable periods. We studied 6 HIV-1-infected individuals who stopped therapy. Off HAART, levels of viremia were suppressed to fewer than 500 copies/mL in 2 subjects for more than 12 and more than 24 months, respectively, and in 1 subject for 4 months on 1 occasion. Three subjects failed to contain plasma viremia. Broad and strong HIV-1-specific immune responses were detected in subjects with prolonged suppression of viral replication. This longitudinal study suggests that containment of HIV-1 replication to low or undetectable levels after discontinuation of HAART is associated with strong virus-specific immune responses. Boosting of HIV-1-specific immune responses should be considered as an adjunctive treatment strategy for HIV-1-infected individuals on HAART.     

多重定量PCR法同步检测HBV、HCV和HIV-1在血液筛查中的优化及应用

目的 初步探讨多重定量聚合酶链反应（PCR）同步检测乙型肝炎病毒（HBV） DNA,丙型肝炎病毒（HCV） RNA及人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV）-1 RNA在血液筛查中的应用前景.方法 选择2012年8月至12月,于孝感市中心血站志愿献血的合格献血者血样中,经2次酶联免疫吸附法（ELISA）检测HBV表面抗原（HBsAg）、抗HCV及抗HIV-1,检测结果均呈阴性的4 800份血样为研究对象.采用全自动核酸混合提取仪对该4 800份血样进行核酸提取,然后利用多重定量PCR方法对血样中HBV、HCV及HIV-1进行同步扩增检测.采用中国药品和生物制品检定所提供的HBV DNA、HCV RNA及HIV-1 RNA标准参考品,检测多重定量PCR的灵敏度,并与单重定量PCR的灵敏度进行比较.在HBV、HCV及HIV-1 3者中任意1种病毒基因组浓度较高的条件下,对多重定量PCR检测另2种低浓度病毒基因组的能力进行评估.结果 增加多重定量PCR中c-MMLV逆转录酶和Hot Taq酶的用量,并适量加入单链结合蛋白（SSB）,可使其扩增效率提升至单重定量PCR扩增水平.本组4 800份血样中,经多重定量PCR检测出3份HBV DNA阳性样品,ELISA漏检率为0.062 5％,未发现HCV RNA和HIV-1 RNA阳性样品;多重定量PCR检测HBV DNA、HCV RNA及HIV-1 RNA在95％置信区间的灵敏度浓度分别为115 IU/mL、376 IU /mL和232 IU /mL;单重定量PCR检测HBV DNA、HCV RNA和HIV-1 RNA在95％置信区间的灵敏度浓度分别为51 IU /mL、94 IU /mL和78 IU/mL.结论 本研究初步建立了对献血者血液同时进行HBV DNA、HCV RNA及HIV-1 RNA检测的多重定量PCR检测方法;该检测体系经过进一步优化后,有望应用于临床大规模血液病毒筛查.     

HIV-1 reservoirs

In most infected individuals, HIV-1 replicates high levels throughout the duration of infection, including the clinically quiescent phase of disease. The level of this active viral replication correlates directly with disease progression and survival. The advent of combination therapeutics for HIV-1 (i.e., highly active antiretroviral therapy [HAART]) has led to dramatic reductions in viral replication in vivo and morbidity and mortality, at least in the developed world.