Abstract
The aim of this work was to analyze the effects of highly active antiretroviral therapy on the chronically activated immune system of 26 antiretroviral-naive HIV-1-infected patients. Samples from baseline to week 24 or 36 of treatment were tested for serum levels of β2-microglobulin, tumor necrosis factor α and soluble tumor necrosis factor α receptor type II, as well as for human leukocyte antigen-DR expression on T cells. After starting therapy, the mean HIV-1 RNA serum levels decreased and the mean CD4+ cell counts increased from baseline to week 36 (P<0.001). Mean levels of tumor necrosis factor α receptor type II, tumor necrosis factor α and β2-microglobulin as well as expression of human leukocyte antigen-DR were significantly reduced at the end of follow-up (P<0.01). Deactivation kinetics of these parameters was similar in patients with CD4+ counts>200 cells/μl at baseline versus those with CD4+ counts <200 cells/μl at baseline, despite higher activation at baseline in the group with <200 cells/μl. In summary, this study shows that highly active antiretroviral therapy is able to induce a strong deactivation of the immune system of HIV-1-infected patients.
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Franco, J., Rubio, A., Rey, C. et al. Reduction of Immune System Activation in HIV-1-Infected Patients Undergoing Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy. EJCMID 18, 733–736 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s100960050388
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s100960050388