Important note: Information in this article was accurate in December 2001. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.AIDSWEEKLY Plus; Monday, December 24 & 31, 2001
Michael Greer, Senior Medical Writer
NewsRx -- The makeup of antigen-specific memory T-cell populations influences viral load in the acute phase of HIV infection, according to researchers in the United States.
Dr. Elizabeth Connick and colleagues at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver and the Denver Department of Public Health examined the effect of precursor cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) on HIV RNA levels.
Memory T cells targeting certain antigens were associated with higher viral loads than cells specific to other antigens, they found.
Each of the 14 recently infected study participants demonstrated memory CTLs targeting at least two HIV antigens, study data showed. Patients with higher viral loads were more likely to carry CTLs specific to a greater number of antigens.
High populations of CTLs targeting the HIV Gag protein were associated with reduced HIV RNA levels six months after seroconversion (p=0.0003), the researchers said. Conversely, study participants with HIV Env-specific memory CTL activity were significantly more likely to show elevated viral loads after six months (p=0.0221).
Patients heterozygous for a 32 base-pair deletion in the CCR5 gene, which codes for a receptor used for cell entry by HIV, had the largest Gag-specific CTL populations and the lowest viral loads (Relationship between human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) specifi memory cytotoxic T lymphocytes and virus load after recent HIV-1 seroconversion," Journal of Infectious Diseases, December 2001;184(11):1412-1422).
"These data suggest that host factors that restrict viral replication may be important determinants of the level of HIV-1 specific precursor CTL," Connick and colleagues concluded.
The corresponding author for this report is Dr. Elizabeth Connick, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Box B168, 4200 E. Ninth Avenue, Denver, CO 80262, USA. E-mail: liz.connick@uchsc.edu.
Key points reported in this study include:
This article was prepared by AIDS Weekly editors from staff and other reports.
011224
AW011210
Copyright © 2001 - Charles Henderson, Publisher. All rights Reserved. Permission to reproduce granted to AEGIS by Charles W. Henderson. Authorization to reproduce for personal use granted granted by C. W. Henderson, Publisher, provided that the fee of US$4.50 per copy, per page is paid directly to the Copyright Clearance Center, 27 Congress Street, Salem, Massachusetts 01970, USA. Published by Charles Henderson, Publisher. Editorial & Publishing Office: P.O. Box 5528, Atlanta, GA 30307-0528 / Telephone: (800) 633-4931; Subscription Office: P.O. Box 830409, Birmingham, AL 35283-0409 / FAX: (205) 995-1588 http://www.newsrx.net
AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, iMetrikus, Inc., the National Library of Medicine, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2001. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1990,2001. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content.