Biphasic decay kinetics suggest progressive slowing in turnover of latently HIV-1 infected cells during antiretroviral therapy

2008

HIV-1 Infected Cell Turnover During Antiretroviral Therapy

Sample size: 5 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Marek Fischer, Beda Joos, Barbara Niederöst, Philipp Kaiser, Roland Hafner, Viktor von Wyl, Martina Ackermann, Rainer Weber, Huldrych F. Günthard

Primary Institution: University Hospital Zürich

Hypothesis

The study aims to define the in vivo decay kinetics of HIV-1 infected cells during antiretroviral therapy.

Conclusion

The study found that latently HIV-infected cells exhibit biphasic decay kinetics, with rapid initial decreases followed by persistence.

Supporting Evidence

HIV-RNA+ PBMC can be stratified into four distinct viral transcriptional classes.
Two overlapping cell-classes of high viral transcriptional activity rapidly declined to undetectable levels.
Cells expressing HIV-RNA at low and intermediate levels persisted during cART.

Takeaway

This study looked at how HIV-infected cells behave when patients start treatment, finding that some cells disappear quickly while others stick around.

Methodology

The study used patient-matched PCR and limiting dilution analysis to assess HIV-infected cell classes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells over one year.