Introduction: Virus-specific CD8+ T cells are crucial to suppress the viral replication in HIV infection. Their functional status is important as well. Also, the chronic nonspecific immune activation of T and B lymphocytes plays an important role in the immunopathogenesis of HIV infection. Aim of the study: To analyze the frequency and functional status of HIV-specific CD8+ T cells and the expression of nonspecific activation markers on B and T cells in HIV+ patients and to assess the effect of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) on these parameters. Patients and methods: Our cohort included 80 HIV+ patients: 36 HIV+ patients on cART, 18 patients without therapy, in whom cART was introduced during our study, 9 patients without therapy, 10 patients with primary HIV infection, 3 long-term non-progressors and 4 patients initially on cART, in whom the therapy was discontinued. Control group consisted of 34 HIV- healthy individuals. We examined CD4+ a CD8+ T cell counts, viral load, expression of nonspecific activation markers on T cells and the frequency of HIV-specific CD8+ T cells by ELISpot method and flow cytometry using MHC tetramers and intracellular cytokine detection. Results: No significant differences in HIV-specific CD8+ T cells were found between treated and untreated HIV+ patients. The frequency...
Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:nusl.cz/oai:invenio.nusl.cz:441517 |
Date | January 2011 |
Creators | Bartovská, Zofia |
Contributors | Holub, Michal, Boštík, Pavel, Marešová, Vilma |
Source Sets | Czech ETDs |
Language | Czech |
Detected Language | English |
Type | info:eu-repo/semantics/doctoralThesis |
Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess |
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