DETERMINATION OF INTRACELLULAR REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES IN T-CELL SUBSETS OF HIV+ PATIENTS ON CONTINUOUS cART

Abstract

Background: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated at physiological levels as a result of cellular metabolism and contribute to cellular interaction and immune response. Elevated ROS may cause cell stress, damage, and apoptosis, and have been detected in different pathological states of infectious and non-infectious etiology. Aim: To evaluate the association between intracellular ROS in T-cell subsets and HIV VL in chronic HIV infection. Material and methods: Whole blood samples (Li-heparin, n=33) were analyzed during routine immune monitoring in two groups of HIV+ patients: A (n=21), on continuous cART for at least 2y, with sustained viral suppression (HIV VL0.05), unlike the CD4/CD8 ratio (1.2 vs. 0.6, p0.05). Noteworthy, CD4+T intracellular ROS correlated positively with HIV VL (R=0.5, p<0.05), unlike CD8+T ROS. On the other hand, positive correlations between CD8+T ROS and cART duration, as well as age (R=0.5, p<0.05 for both) were observed in group A. Conclusions: CD4+T ROS production may be an indicator of residual HIV activity in the settings of undetectable HIV VL. The combined effects of ageing and long-term cART affect mostly the CD8+T cell compartment.

Keywords

• HIV
• ROS
• immune recovery
• antiretroviral therapy