Improvement of interleukin 2 production, clonogenic capability and restoration of stromal cell function in human immunodeficiency virus-type-1 patients after highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Haematological abnormalities frequently occur in patients infected by human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 (HIV-1). Increasing evidence indicates that bone marrow suppression (BM) results from viral infection of accessory cells, with impaired stromal function and alteration of haematopoietic growth factor network. We have investigated the effects of antiretroviral therapy on cytokine and chemokine production by BM cells and stromal cells in a group of HIV-1-infected subjects before and during treatment.

Endogenous cytokine production protects T cells from spontaneous apoptosis during highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Background: The availability of therapeutic regimens that effectively interfere with HIV-1 replication provides novel opportunities to investigate mechanisms of T-cell depletion as well as repopulation in infected individuals.

Methods: Nineteen HIV-1-infected individuals were investigated during one-year follow-up of highly active retroviral therapy (HAART). The frequencies of apoptotic T cells, as determined by propidium iodide, staining, TUNEL assay and analysis of annexin V, were assessed either in the absence or in the presence of anti-interleukin (IL)2 and anti-IL-4 neutralizing Ab.

Distribution of the natural killer-related receptor for HLA-C during highly active antiretroviral therapy for human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Receptors interacting with Major Histocompatibility Complex class I molecules have been initially found on the surface of human natural killer (NK) cells, where they deliver inhibitory signals to the lysis, being thus defined killer inhibitory receptors (KIR). Subsequently, they were detected also on the surface of T-CD8(+) lymphocytes and are particularly expanded during human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, where they downregulate HIV-specific cytolysis. The expression of KIR recognizing human leukocyte antigen-C alleles was assessed in HIV-infected patients, undergoing highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

Recovery of hematopoietic activity in bone marrow from human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected patients during highly active antiretroviral therapy.

The mechanisms responsible for the hematopoietic failure in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected patients are still unknown. Several findings indicate that the in vitro proliferative potential of precursor cells from AIDS patients is reduced. The changes seen in bone marrow (BM) morphology and the defective BM functions associated with cytopenias have both been proposed as potential explanations.

Decreased T cell apoptosis and T cell recovery during highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

T cell apoptosis represents a common mechanism of T cell depletion in HIV-1-infected individuals reflecting maturational and functional T cell abnormalities either directly or indirectly induced by the virus. In the present study, the effects of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on the spontaneous apoptosis of distinct T cell subsets were investigated during a 6-month follow-up in a cohort of HIV-1-infected individuals with CD4(+) cell counts between 100 and 500 cells/microliter and plasma HIV-1 RNA levels >/=10, 000 copies/ml. We determined that the rapid and sustained increase of both naive (CD45RA(+)CD62L(+)) and memory (CD45R0(+) and CD45RA(+)/CD62L(-)) CD4(+) and, to as lesser extent, CD8(+) T cells in peripheral blood was associated with a significant decrease of apoptotic CD4(+) and CD8(+) as well as CD3(+)CD4(-)CD8(-) T cells.

Evaluation of T-cell response to CD3 plus CD28 monoclonal antibodies in HIV-1 infected subjects treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy.

To investigate whether highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) could improve CD28 molecule expression and CD28-costimulation pathway function we tested the effect of CD28-costimulation on T cell receptor/CD3 induced proliferative responses in a group of HIV-1-infected subjects with CD4+ cells>200/mmc before and after HAART. CD3-mediated responses are recovered or improved after HAART. However the ability of potentiating the responses through CD28-costimulation seemed conserved before therapy and decreased in parallel with increase of response to CD3 alone.

Long-term evaluation of T-cell subsets and T-cell function after HAART in advanced stage HIV-1 disease.

Objectives: Evaluation of immunological reconstitution after 2 years of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in AIDS patients.

Design: Previous data showed the effectiveness of HAART but conflicting evidence of immune reconstitution has been found in severely immunocompromised patients. Therefore, T-cell subsets and functions were analysed during 24 months of HAART in 21 AIDS patients (mean baseline CD4 cell count, 20 x 10(6)/l).

The Italian quality control study for evaluation of CD4 cells in centres involved in the treatment of HIV-1 patients. Italian CD4 Quality Control Group.

We report on the experience of establishing a national network for a quality control programme in evaluating CD4 cell counts in most Italian centres involved in the care of patients with HIV disease. The 68 centres were divided according to their geographical location into eight groups, and twice a year (tests A and B) they received three coded whole blood samples (two were replicates of the same sample) obtained from two informed HIV+ patients, one with CD4 counts/mm3 expected to be < 200 and one with values > 300. The medians of the determinations performed by the labs involved in each of the eight areas were taken as the 'true' values for each sample.

Long-term evaluation of cellular immunity during antiretroviral therapy and immunization with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Env glycoprotein in HIV-1-infected persons.

Cellular immune responses to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) antigens, microbial recall antigens, and CD3 monoclonal antibody were studied in HIV-1-infected asymptomatic patients in a phase II, double-blind trial of immunization with recombinant HIV-1 gp160 in or not in association with zidovudine. A vigorous and persistent lymphoproliferative response (LPR) to HIV-1 Env antigens was observed in vaccinated patients. Neither Env-specific lymphocyte cytotoxicity nor LPR to recall antigens was significantly influenced by gp160 administration.

[Diffusion of hepatitis B surface antigens in subjects with bladder schistosomiasis].

The problem of the relationship between the surface B antigen and the parasitosis characterized by active penetration of the larvae through the skin has not yet been resolved. Conflicting results have been reported lately on this problem even though it is currently believed that HBsAg is found more often among patients infected by parasites than among healthy subjects. Serum samples from 67 Somalian patients infected by S.