Main Article Content

The effect of interrupted anti-retroviral treatment on the reconstitution of memory and naive T cells during tuberculosis treatment in HIV patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis


Sophie Nalukwago
Christina L Lancioni
Joy Baseke Oketcho
Dave H.e Canaday
W Henry Boom
Lonzy Ojok
Harriet Mayanja-Kizza

Abstract

Background: The reconstitution of cellular immune components contributes to clinical outcome of HIV and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection. Interruption of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) could lead to perturbations in reconstitution of T cells in HIV/ tuberculosis (TB) patients. Objectives: To ascertain the effect of interrupted ART on reconstitution of CD4+ and CD8+ T sub-sets in TB patients.
Methods: Participants with HIV (CD4>350 cells/μL) and TB were recruited under a larger phase 3 open label randomised controlled clinical trial. The CD45RO and CD62L markers were measured on CD4+ and CD8+ cells by flow cytometry. Samples were analysed at baseline, 3, 6, 12 months.
Results: There was a significant increase of naive CD8+ cells (p = 0.003) and a decrease in effector CD8+ cells (p = 0.004) among participants in ART/TB treatment arm during the first 6 months. Withdrawing ART led to naive CD8+ cells reduction (p=0.02) to values close to baseline. An increase of naive CD8+ cells after 6 months of TB treatment in TB alone treatment arm (p=0.01) was observed. A trend towards increment of naive CD4+ sub sets in either treatment arms was observed.
Conclusion: Interrupting ART alters CD8+ but not CD4+ sub-sets in patients with less advanced HIV infection and TB.

Keywords: Interrupted anti-retroviral treatment, memory and naive T cells, HIV patients, active pulmonary tuberculosis.


Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 1729-0503
print ISSN: 1680-6905