Reduced Central Memory CD4+ T Cells and Increased T-Cell Activation Characterise Treatment-Naive Patients Newly Diagnosed at Late Stage of HIV Infection

Francesca Bai; Camilla Tincati; Esther Merlini; Carlotta Pacioni; Elisabetta Sinigaglia; Giovanni Carpani; Antonella d'Arminio Monforte; Giulia Marchetti

doi:10.1155/2012/314849

Reduced Central Memory CD4+ T Cells and Increased T-Cell Activation Characterise Treatment-Naive Patients Newly Diagnosed at Late Stage of HIV Infection

AIDS Res Treat. 2012:2012:314849. doi: 10.1155/2012/314849. Epub 2011 Oct 27.

Authors

Francesca Bai¹, Camilla Tincati, Esther Merlini, Carlotta Pacioni, Elisabetta Sinigaglia, Giovanni Carpani, Antonella d'Arminio Monforte, Giulia Marchetti

Affiliation

¹ Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Clinic of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, S. Paolo Hospital, University of Milan, via A. di Rudinì, 8-20142 Milan, Italy.

Abstract

Objectives. We investigated immune phenotypes of HIV+ patients who present late, considering late presenters (LPs, CD4+ < 350/μL and/or AIDS), advanced HIV disease (AHD, CD4+ < 200/μL and/or AIDS), and AIDS presenters (AIDS-defining condition at presentation, independently from CD4+). Methods. Patients newly diagnosed with HIV at our clinic between 2007-2011 were enrolled. Mann-Whitney/Chi-squared tests and logistic regression were used for statistics. Results. 275 patients were newly diagnosed with HIV between January/2007-March/2011. 130 (47%) were LPs, 79 (29%) showed AHD, and 49 (18%) were AIDS presenters. LP, AHD, and AIDS presenters were older and more frequently heterosexuals. Higher CD8+%, lower CD127+CD4+%, higher CD95+CD8+%, CD38+CD8+%, and CD45R0+CD38+CD8+% characterized LP/AHD/AIDS presentation. In multivariate analysis, older age, heterosexuality, higher CD8+%, and lower CD127+CD4+% were confirmed associated with LP/AHD. Lower CD4+ and higher CD38+CD8+% resulted independently associated with AIDS presentation. Conclusions. CD127 downregulation and immune activation characterize HIV+ patients presenting late and would be studied as additional markers of late presentation.