Residual Viral Replication during Antiretroviral Therapy Boosts Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Specific CD8+T-Cell Responses in Subjects Treated Early after Infection

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected subjects treated early after infection have preserved HIV-1-specific CD4⁺T-cell function. We studied the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on the frequency of HIV-1-specific CD8⁺T cells in patients treated during early (n= 31) or chronic (n= 23) infection. The degree of viral suppression and time of initiation of treatment influenced the magnitude of the CD8⁺T-cell response. HIV-1-specific CD8⁺T cells can increase in number after HAART in subjects treated early after infection who have episodes of transient viremia.