AUTHOR=Zhang Lu-Xue , Jiao Yan-Mei , Zhang Chao , Song Jin-Wen , Fan Xing , Xu Ruo-Nan , Huang Hui-Huang , Zhang Ji-Yuan , Wang Li-Feng , Zhou Chun-Bao , Jin Lei , Shi Ming , Wang Fu-Sheng 

TITLE=HIV Reservoir Decay and CD4 Recovery Associated With High CD8 Counts in Immune Restored Patients on Long-Term ART

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2020.01541

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2020.01541

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> Whether varying CD8 counts influence the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reservoir and CD4 restoration in patients with CD4 counts ≥ 500 cells/μL after long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains unknown. In this study, we analyzed relationships between CD8 levels and viral reservoir decay or CD4 recovery in immune restored patients on long-term ART.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Chronic HIV-infected patients who received 5 years of ART with CD4 counts ≥ 500 cells/μL were grouped according to CD8 counts: CD8 &lt;500 (Group 1), 500–1,000 (Group 2), and ≥1,000 cells/μL (Group 3). CD4 recovery, viral decay, CD8 T-cell function, and their correlations were analyzed during ART among the three groups.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Dynamics of viral decay and CD4 recovery were different among the three groups. Both viral decay and CD4 recovery were higher in Group 3 than the other two groups after 5 years of ART, mainly during years 3–5 of ART. Higher expression levels of Ki67 while PD-1 levels were lower on CD8 T-cells in Group 3 compared with the other groups, and Group 3 showed stronger CD8 T-cells functional capacity after 3 years of ART. Reduced HIV DNA levels and increased CD4 counts between years 3 and 5 of ART were positively correlated with CD8 counts and function.</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> High CD8 counts are beneficial for persistent viral decay and CD4 recovery in immune restored patients during long-term ART.</p>