Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 6, 2026
Assessing the Innate Sensing of HIV-1 Infected CD4+ T Cells by Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells Using an Ex vivo Co-culture System.
Published on: September 1, 2015
Prospective relationship between hemispheric lateralisation and CD4+ T cells in human immunodeficiency virus type 1
Rachel C Sumner1, Alexander V Nowicky, Andrew Parton
1Centre for Rehabilitation Research,Brunel University, Uxbridge, UK.
Insights
Hemispheric lateralisation (HL) influences immune function. In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1+ patients, left HL predicted higher CD4+ cell counts, particularly in those not on antiretroviral therapy.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Immunology
- Neurology
Background:
- Neuromodulation of the immune system is theorized to involve hemispheric lateralisation (HL).
- Previous research suggests a link between HL and immune responses, but rigorous investigation is needed, especially in the context of HIV.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether hemispheric lateralisation (HL) predicts CD4+ cell counts in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 positive patients.
- To explore the influence of confounding factors, such as medication, on the relationship between HL and CD4+ levels.
Main Methods:
- Prospective follow-up of 68 HIV-1 positive patients using two distinct assessments of HL.
- Rigorous methodology including numerous exclusion criteria and confounder assessments (e.g., age, medication status).
Main Results:
- Left HL significantly positively predicted higher CD4+ cell counts at follow-up.
- This predictive relationship was observed only in patients treatment-naïve to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).
- HL also significantly predicted clinically significant high or low CD4+ counts.
Conclusions:
- The study provides partial support for the theory of HL influencing immune function, extending it to HIV immunity.
- Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) emerged as a potential moderator in the HL-immunity relationship.
- Findings suggest implications for future research and therapeutic strategies targeting neuro-immune interactions in HIV.
Objectives:
Neuromodulation of the immune system has been proposed to be influenced by hemispheric lateralisation (HL). The present study tested whether HL predicted CD4+ levels, statistically controlling for confounders.
Methods:
Employing two assessments of HL, 68 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1+ patients were followed prospectively. Numerous exclusion criteria and confounder assessments were employed (e.g. age/medication).
Results:
Left HL significantly positively predicted CD4+ levels at follow-up, and this was qualified by medication (HAART) status: only in HAART-naïve patients did HL predict CD4 levels. Furthermore, HL significantly predicted whether patients had clinically significantly high/low CD4+ counts.
Conclusions:
Using a more rigorous methodology than a previous study, the present work partly corroborated the theory of HL influences on immunity, extended it to HIV immunity and identified a possible moderator: HAART medication. Implications for future research and treatments are provided.
