Decreases in IL-7 levels during antiretroviral treatment of HIV infection suggest a primary mechanism of receptor-mediated clearance.

ABSTRACT: IL-7 is essential for T-cell homeostasis. Elevated serum IL-7 levels in lymphopenic states, including HIV infection, are thought to be due to increased production by homeostatic feedback, decreased receptor-mediated clearance, or both. The goal of this study was to understand how immune reconstitution through antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV(+) patients affects IL-7 serum levels, expression of the IL-7 receptor (CD127), and T-cell cycling. Immunophenotypic analysis of T cells from 29 HIV(-) controls and 43 untreated HIV(+) patients (30 of whom were followed longitudinally for ≤ 24 months on ART) was performed. Restoration of both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells was driven by increases in CD127(+) naive and central memory T cells. CD4(+) T-cell subsets were not fully restored after 2 years of

SUBMITTER: Hodge JN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3179394 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature