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Immune activation in prolonged cART-suppressed HIV patients is comparable to that of healthy controls

Lennert van den Dries1, Mark A A Claassen2, Zwier M A Groothuismink3

  • 1Erasmus Medical Centre, Department of Viroscience, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Virology
|June 24, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Long-term combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) in HIV patients without comorbidities does not further reduce immune activation after the first year. Residual immune activation in treated HIV infection is comparable to healthy individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Virology
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Chronic HIV infection is linked to sustained immune activation, increasing comorbidity and mortality risks.
  • Effective combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) reduces immune activation, particularly within the first year of treatment.
  • The long-term impact of cART on immune activation in HIV patients without major comorbidities is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the sustained effects of long-term combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) on immune activation in HIV-infected individuals.
  • To determine if immune activation levels change beyond the first year of cART in patients without significant comorbidities.
  • To compare immune parameters in long-term treated HIV patients with healthy controls.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive analysis of cellular, intracellular, and plasma biomarkers was conducted.
  • Five groups of 10 HIV patients, categorized by cART duration (0, 1, 3, 5, and 10 years), were studied.
  • Ten age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included for comparative analysis.

Main Results:

  • No additional reduction in inflammatory markers was observed after the first year of cART in HIV patients without major comorbidities.
  • Immune activation levels in well-treated HIV-infected individuals on long-term cART were similar to those in healthy controls.
  • The study indicates a plateau effect of cART on immune activation beyond one year in this specific patient group.

Conclusions:

  • Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) effectively dampens immune activation in HIV infection, with significant effects seen within the first year.
  • Beyond the first year, long-term cART does not appear to further decrease immune activation markers in HIV patients without major comorbidities.
  • Residual immune activation in successfully treated HIV patients resembles levels found in healthy individuals, suggesting effective disease control and immune normalization.

Keywords:
BiomarkerCo-morbiditiesCytokineHIVImmune ActivationMonocyteNK cellcART

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