scholarly journals Measuring Recent Thymic Emigrants in Blood of Normal and HIV-1–Infected Individuals before and after Effective Therapy

1999 ◽  
Vol 190 (5) ◽  
pp. 725-732 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linqi Zhang ◽  
Sharon R. Lewin ◽  
Martin Markowitz ◽  
Hsi-Hsun Lin ◽  
Eva Skulsky ◽  
...  

The role of the thymus in HIV-1 pathogenesis remains unclear. We developed an assay to quantify the number of recent thymic emigrants in blood based on the detection of a major excisional DNA byproduct (termed α1 circle) of T cell receptor rearrangement. By studying 532 normal individuals, we found that α1 circle numbers in blood remain high for the first 10–15 yr of life, a sharp drop is seen in the late teen years, and a gradual decline occurs thereafter. Compared with age-matched uninfected control individuals, α1 circle numbers in HIV-1–infected adults were significantly reduced; however, there were many individuals with normal α1 circle numbers. In 74 individuals receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy, we found no appreciable effect on α1 circle numbers in those whose baseline values were already within the normal range, but significant increases were observed in those with a preexisting impairment. The increases in α1 circle numbers were, however, numerically insufficient to account for the rise in levels of naive T lymphocytes. Overall, it is difficult to invoke thymic regenerative failure as a generalized mechanism for CD4 lymphocyte depletion in HIV-1 infection, as α1 circle numbers are normal in a substantial subset of HIV-1–infected individuals.

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Filiberto Cedeno-Laurent ◽  
Augusto C. Penalva de Oliveira ◽  
José E. Vidal ◽  
J. Roberto Trujillo

Human polyomavirus JC is the causative agent of a deadly form of sudden onset dementia, progressive multifocal leukocoencephalopathy (PML). PML is highly prevalent in immunodeficient populations, specially those undergoing chemotherapy, immunosuppressive treatments for autoimmune conditions, and HIV-1/AIDS patients. In fact, before the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimens became available, PML was a leading cause of death in HIV-1 seropositive individuals. However, patients under HAART show increased survival times with better prognoses. In this report we described the main differences between PML before and after the HAART era; highlighting the new patterns of presentation, the neurotropism of other human polyomaviruses, and the increased prevalence of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS), as a complication of PML in patients under HAART. Lastly, we propose a revised classification of human poliomavirus-associated cerebral disorders that may reflect more accurately what clinicians encounter in their everyday practice.


AIDS ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. F235-F240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Kostense ◽  
Frank M. Raaphorst ◽  
Daan W. Notermans ◽  
Jeanine Joling ◽  
Berend Hooibrink ◽  
...  

Blood ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 99 (10) ◽  
pp. 3702-3706 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaime M. Franco ◽  
Amalia Rubio ◽  
Manuel Martı́nez-Moya ◽  
Manuel Leal ◽  
Elena Merchante ◽  
...  

The origin of T cells after highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) is now under discussion. The possibility of renewed lymphopoiesis in aged thymuses is still controversial. In this work we combine the analysis of naı̈ve T cells, T-cell receptor excision circles (TRECs), and computed tomography scanning of thymic tissue to further assess whether the thymus is involved in immune reconstitution. Fifteen antiretroviral-naı̈ve HIV-1–infected patients were evaluated during 48 weeks of HAART. At baseline, significant correlation was present among age and both thymic volume and TRECs, and between naı̈ve T cells and TRECs. After starting HAART, there was a significant increase at week 12 in naı̈ve CD4+and CD8+ T cells, TRECs, and thymic volume. The initial net increases in naı̈ve T cells and TREC counts were significantly correlated. Changes in thymic volume and TRECs were also indirectly related; splitting the population into 2 groups of high and low baseline TREC levels, only the group with low TREC levels had significant increases in both TRECs and thymic volume. Thus, the increase in thymic volume might be functional, in response to depleted TREC levels. Taken together, our data strongly suggest a thymic role in immune reconstitution, at least in patients with depleted baseline TREC levels.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 205031212110201
Author(s):  
Negesso Duguma ◽  
Girum Tesfaye Kiya ◽  
Wondimagegn Adissu Maleko ◽  
Lealem Gedefaw Bimerew

Objectives: Hematological abnormalities of the major blood cell lines are frequently reported in patients with HIV-1 infection, in patients without antiretroviral therapy, and during the advanced stages of the disease. Chronic immune activation and inflammation results in the progressive depletion of CD4+ T-cells play a significant role in the clinical progression and pathogenesis of this infection. This study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of hematological abnormalities and their associated factors before and after the initiation of antiretroviral therapy in adults with HIV-1 infection in a referral hospital. Methods: The study was conducted from 1 April to 30 June 2018, at Goba Referral Hospital. A total of 308 HIV-positive adults on treatment were enrolled during the study period. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected using a structured questionnaire, with pre-highly active antiretroviral therapy data were extracted from medical records while post-treatment immuno-hematological measurements were done on blood samples collected at the time of enrollment. Results: The prevalence of anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia before initiation of antiretroviral treatment was higher, although anemia and thrombocytopenia decreased correspondingly after initiation of treatment leukopenia increased by 4%. Mean values of immuno-hematological parameters before and after treatment initiation were significant ( p < 0.05). CD4+ T-cell count <200 cells/µL was the only independent risk factor for anemia and leukopenia before highly active antiretroviral therapy, while stage IV disease, female sex, zidovudine, lamivudine, and nevirapine treatment, and intestinal parasite infection were predictors of anemia after treatment initiation. Conclusion: The study revealed that hematological abnormalities are common in HIV infection, while the occurrence of abnormalities after highly active antiretroviral therapy initiation. Different risk factors are associated with hematological abnormalities at pre- and post-highly active antiretroviral therapy with regular monitoring of risk factors, adherence to the early initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy, and conduct of further longitudinal studies are recommended.


2005 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 302-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
C C Hung ◽  
M Y Chen ◽  
S M Hsieh ◽  
C F Hsiao ◽  
W H Sheng ◽  
...  

We assessed the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection and incidence of toxoplasma encephalitis (TE) in 844 non-haemophiliac HIV-infected patients in Taiwan between June 1994 and April 2003. Approximately 70% (69.3%) of them had a baseline CD4+ lymphocyte count of 200 × 106/L or less, and more than 70% (73.9%) having initiated highly active antiretroviral therapy. The seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was 10.2%, which did not differ with sex, age, route of transmission, birth inside or outside of Taiwan, or CD4+ lymphocyte stratifications. After a median observation duration of 603 days (range, 1–3264 days), 10 (1.2%) patients developed 11 episodes of TE after a median interval of 30 days (range, 1–941 days) between enrolment and diagnosis of TE, with an incidence of 0.59 per 100 person-years (PY) (95% confidence interval, 0.56–0.63 per 100 PY). We concluded that the incidence of TE of HIV-infected patients in Taiwan was lower than that reported in western countries because of a lower seroprevalence of T. gondii infection and use of antimicrobial prophylaxis and antiretroviral therapy, although most of the patients were at the late stage of HIV infection.


1999 ◽  
Vol 96 (26) ◽  
pp. 15167-15172 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. M. Ferguson ◽  
F. deWolf ◽  
A. C. Ghani ◽  
C. Fraser ◽  
C. A. Donnelly ◽  
...  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document