Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 19, 2026
Humanized NOD/SCID/IL2rγnull (hu-NSG) Mouse Model for HIV Replication and Latency Studies
Published on: January 7, 2019
Differential CD4+ cell count increase and CD4+ : CD8+ ratio normalization with maraviroc compared with tenofovir
Ellen S Chan1, Alan L Landay, Todd T Brown
1aStatistical and Data Analysis Center, Harvard Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts bDepartment of Immunology and Microbiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois cDivision of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland dDivision of Infectious Diseases eDivision of Endocrinology and Metabolism and Lipids, Emory University, Atlanta; Atlanta VA Medical Center, Decatur, Georgia fHIV Research Branch, Division of AIDS, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland gDivision of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina hDivision of Infectious Diseases, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio iDivision of Infectious Diseases, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Maraviroc (MVC) showed greater CD4 T-cell increases and smaller CD8 T-cell decreases compared to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) in initial HIV therapy. However, both drugs had similar effects on inflammation and immune activation markers.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Mixed results exist on maraviroc's (MVC) immunologic effects compared to other antiretrovirals.
- Clarifying differential immune effects of MVC versus tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is crucial for initial HIV therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if MVC has distinct immunologic effects compared to TDF during initial antiretroviral therapy.
- To compare changes in cellular and soluble biomarkers of inflammation and immune activation between MVC and TDF treatment arms.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (A5303) involving 262 participants.
- Assayed 31 cellular and soluble biomarkers at baseline and 48 weeks using flow cytometry and ELISA.
- Analyzed data from 230 participants (119 on MVC, 111 on TDF) as treated.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in inflammation or activation markers between MVC and TDF groups over 48 weeks.
- MVC arm showed a greater increase in CD4 T-cell count (+234 vs. +188 cells/μl) and a smaller decrease in CD8 T-cell count (-6 vs. -109 cells/μl).
- MVC group had a smaller increase in the CD4:CD8 ratio (0.26 vs. 0.39) and fewer participants normalized their ratio if baseline was <1 (15% vs. 36%).
Conclusions:
- Maraviroc (MVC) demonstrated a more favorable impact on CD4 and CD8 T-cell counts compared to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF).
- Despite differences in T-cell counts, MVC and TDF exhibited similar effects on biomarkers of inflammation and immune activation.
- The observed differences in CD4:CD8 ratio normalization suggest distinct immunomodulatory profiles between MVC and TDF.
