CD4 T cell nadir independently predicts the magnitude of the HIV reservoir after prolonged suppressive antiretroviral therapy

Mohamed Rachid Boulassel*, Nicolas Chomont, Nitika Pant Pai, Norbert Gilmore, Rafick Pierre Sékaly, Jean Pierre Routy

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

73 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: The level of HIV-1 integrated DNA in CD4 T cells was reported to predict the evolution of untreated HIV-1 infection independently of CD4 cell counts or plasma HIV-1 RNA levels. However, the relevance of reservoir level while on efficient antiretroviral therapy (ART) is still unknown. Objectives: To evaluate factors that may contribute to the establishment and maintenance of HIV-1 reservoir size in ART-treated HIV-1-infected adults with complete suppression of viremia. Study design: 35 subjects receiving ART with plasma HIV-1 RNA below the limit of detection for an average duration of 3.2 years were studied. A highly sensitive PCR was used to assess HIV-1 integrated DNA levels in sorted CD4 T cells. Results: The mean HIV-1 integrated DNA was 300±7copies/10 6 CD4 cells (range 10-1408). In univariate analysis, the levels of HIV-1 proviral DNA appeared to be independent of duration of HIV-1-infection, duration on ART, time since HIV-1 viral load was undetectable, delay between HIV-1 infection and starting ART, or viral load before starting ART. Conversely, CD4 T cell nadir, CD4/CD8 ratio and, to lesser degree, CD4 T cell counts were inversely associated with HIV-1 proviral DNA levels. In multivariate analysis, only CD4 T cell nadir significantly predicted levels of HIV-1 proviral DNA (P=0.025). Conclusions: CD4 T cell nadir strongly predicted reservoir size independently of other factors in HIV-1-infected adults with complete suppression of viremia. Collectively, these results indicate that the extent of CD4 T cell depletion before ART drives the size of the viral reservoir after prolonged therapy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)29-32
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Clinical Virology
Volume53
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Antiretroviral therapy
  • HIV-1
  • Nadir CD4 T cells
  • Reservoir

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Virology
  • Infectious Diseases

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'CD4 T cell nadir independently predicts the magnitude of the HIV reservoir after prolonged suppressive antiretroviral therapy'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this