Characteristics of DC subsets in chronic HIV-1 infected patients during antiretroviral therapy
Objective To understand the dynamics of DC subsets in chronic HIV-infected patients during antiretroviral therapy (ART).Methods Seventeen treatment-naive chronic HIV-infected patients were enrolled in our study,and blood was collected at week 0,4,12,24,48 and 60 of ART.Additional 15 HIV-uninfected age-matched healthy adults and 15 long term non-progressors(LTNP) were recruited as controls.CD4+T cell counts and viral loads were examined routinely.The counts of DC subsets were measured by flow cytometry and IFN-α plasma levels were measured by ELISA.Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 16.0.Results ( 1 ) Before ART,mDC ( percentage and absolute count) in ⅢⅤ-infected group were significantly lower than those in healthy group and LTNP group,P＜0.001 in both groups.After 60 weeks of ART,mDC in HIV-infeeted group were significantly increased,and there were no significant differences compared with healthy controls and LTNP group.(2) pDC and IFN-α plasma levels remained relatively stable during ART,and similar to those in healthy controls and LTNP group.(3)Significant associations were found for DC subsets and CD4+ T cell counts before ART.mDC subsets at week 12,24,60 post ART were positively correlated with CD4+ T cell counts,and negntively correlated with virus load.Changes in mDC at week 8 post ART positively correlated with the changes in CD4+T cells at week 60 post ART,and negatively correlated with the changes in virus load at week 60 post ART.Conclusion The counts of mDC significantly reduced in HIV-infected patients,increased after ART,and positively correlated with CD4+ T cell counts.The findings suggest that mDC may play an important role in controlling HIV infection,mDC may serve as an early predictor for immune reconstitution in the initiation of ART. 
 
Key words: 
Human immunodeficiency virus infection;  Antiretroviral therapy;  Dendritic cell;  Interferon