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Updated: May 14, 2026

Chronic, Acute, and Reactivated HIV Infection in Humanized Immunodeficient Mouse Models
Published on: December 3, 2019
CD8+ T-cell activation in HIV-1-infected patients experiencing transient low-level viremia during antiretroviral
Babafemi Taiwo1, Peter W Hunt, Rajesh T Gandhi
1Division of Infectious Diseases, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. b-taiwo@northwestern.edu
Abstract:
Transient low-level viremia (TLLV) of 50-400 HIV RNA copies per milliliter is common during antiretroviral therapy, but its pathogenesis, consequences, and optimal management are unclear. Heightened immune activation is associated with detrimental outcomes, including impaired CD4 T-cell reconstitution. Using CD38/HLA-DR expression on CD8 T cells measured in 2 large studies, we determined associations between TLLV and immune activation levels before, during, and after TLLV. We found that TLLV does not significantly change CD8 T-cell activation and that higher CD8 T-cell activation during viral suppression <50 copies per milliliter is associated with a modest increase in the risk of a subsequent TLLV.
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