Immunophenotypic markers and antiretroviral therapy (IMART): T cell activation and maturation help predict treatment response

J Infect Dis. 2004 May 15;189(10):1811-20. doi: 10.1086/383277. Epub 2004 Apr 29.

Abstract

To determine whether markers of T cell activation and maturation are independently predictive of the response to potent antiretroviral therapy, the Immunophenotypic Markers and Antiretroviral Therapy study applied a novel data-sharing strategy across 5 Adult AIDS Clinical Trial Group trials that counted naive and activated CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in 324 subjects. Regression models--adjustment for baseline CD4 cell count, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA, and study--revealed that high pretreatment CD8(+) T cell activation predicted virologic failure (P=.046). Additional models showed the greatest increase in CD4(+) T cell counts in subjects with highest pretreatment naive CD4(+) T cell counts (P<.0001), which was enhanced by high CD4(+) and low CD8(+) T cell activation. Total lymphocyte count also predicted a subsequent CD4(+) T cell change. These results document the utility of T cell markers in predicting treatment outcome and their potential value for the study and management of HIV-1 infection.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Retroviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • HIV-1 / genetics
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • Hemoglobins / immunology
  • Hemoglobins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • RNA, Viral / chemistry
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Regression Analysis
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • Anti-Retroviral Agents
  • Hemoglobins
  • RNA, Viral