Benito JM, Lopez M, Lozano S, Martinez P, Gonzalez-Lahoz J, Soriano V; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 2002 Jul 7-12; 14: abstract no. ThPeA7148.

Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain

BACKGROUND: In HIV-1 infection CD8+CD38+ T lymphocytes are strongly correlated with disease progression and have prognostic value independent of CD4+ counts. With HAART the level of this subset decreases, suggesting a relationship with the levels of plasma viremia(VL). Recently, the expression of CD38 on CD8 cells was proposed as a sensitive marker of viral replication.OBJECTIVE: To quantitatively analyze the expression of CD38 on CD8 cells(as number of CD38 molecules per CD8 cell) in chronic HIV-1 infection, and the effect of HAART on this parameter.METHODS:46 tretated and 96 untreated patients were included in the study. 7 HIV-negative subjects were included as control group. All treated patients had VL<50 cop/ml at the moment of the study. CD38 was quantified on CD8 cells by flow cytometry.RESULTS: CD4 counts were similar in both groups of patients (treated:436; untreated:463 cells/ul). Mean VL in the untreated group was 3.93 log(copies)/ml. CD38 on CD8 cells was higher in untreated when compared to treated patients and control group (6786, 2147 and 2768 molecules/cell respectively; p<0.01). In the untreated group CD38 expression and VL were strongly correlated (R=0.54, p<0.001). CD38 was also measured in the group of treated patients at different time points while on treatment (mean follow-up: 18.4 months). We compared levels of CD38 at three different time intervals after initiation of HAART. Although VL remained undetectable during the follow-up period in all patients, levels of CD38 decreased with time and were significantly lower after 18 months of therapy than in the first 12 months (2458 vs. 1608 molecules/cell respectively, p<0.05).CONCLUSION: Levels of CD38 on CD8 cells are increased in chronic HIV-1 infection and are strongly correlated with VL. This parameter normalizes under HAART, still decreasing over time when plasma VL is undetectable. This suggests that CD38 may be a marker of residual active virus replication.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• ADP-ribosyl Cyclase
• Antigens, CD
• Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
• Biological Markers
• CD4 Lymphocyte Count
• CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
• HIV Infections
• HIV-1
• Humans
• Viremia
• Virus Replication
• immunology
• virology

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0014610

UI: 102252108

From Meeting Abstracts