Interleukin-2 therapy restores CD8 cell non-cytotoxic anti-HIV responses in primary infection subjects receiving HAART

AIDS. 2004 Oct 21;18(15):1991-9. doi: 10.1097/00002030-200410210-00003.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effect of interleukin-2 (IL-2) therapy on immunologic and virologic responses in subjects with acute or recent HIV infection already receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

Methods: The effect of IL-2 therapy on immunologic and virologic responses was studied in 21 acutely infected individuals who had been receiving HAART for 48 weeks following acute or recent HIV infection. Nine subjects receiving no therapy served as controls. Viral loads, as well as CD4 and CD8 cell counts were monitored and the CD8 cell non-cytotoxic anti-HIV response (CNAR) was measured.

Results: IL-2 therapy led to significant increases in CD4 cell numbers (P = 0.005) that were maintained for 6 months after discontinuation of the IL-2 treatment. No effect of IL-2 was observed on viral loads or the CD8 cell numbers as compared to subjects receiving HAART alone. CNAR activity was restored among subjects receiving HAART and IL-2 whereas CNAR declined among those receiving HAART alone and in untreated infected subjects. The percentage of HAART subjects with CD8 cells showing at least 50% suppression of HIV replication increased significantly following IL-2 therapy (P = 0.02) and persisted for 6 months.

Conclusions: In primary HIV infection administering IL-2 concomitant with HAART following 1 year of treatment with HAART gives a significant increase in CD4 cells and a previously unrecognized beneficial effect on the CD8 cell non-cytotoxic anti-HIV response.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Antibody Formation / immunology
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active*
  • CD4-CD8 Ratio
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-2 / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • Interleukin-2