Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor Increases CD4+ T Cell Counts of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patients Receiving Stable, Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy: Results from a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 181; no. 3; pp. 1148 - 1152
• Main Authors: Aladdin, Hassan, Ullum, Henrik, Nielsen, Susanne Dam, Espersen, Christina, Mathiesen, Lars, Katzenstein, Terese L., Gerstoft, Jan, Skinhoj, Peter, Pedersen, Bente Klarlund
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States University Chicago Press 01.03.2000; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Blood; CD4 Lymphocyte Count - drug effects; Concise Communications; Female; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor - pharmacology; Granulocytes; Highly active antiretroviral therapy; HIV; HIV Infections - drug therapy; HIV Infections - immunology; Humans; Interleukin-2 - biosynthesis; Killer Cells, Natural - drug effects; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Lymphocyte Activation - drug effects; Lymphocytes; Male; Middle Aged; Natural killer cells; Neutrophils; Placebos; T lymphocytes; Viruses
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1086/315305

Thirty human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with CD4+ T cell counts <350 cells/mm3 who had received stable, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for at least 24 weeks were randomized to receive either placebo or granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF; 0.3 mg/mL 3 times a week) for 12 weeks. Blood samples were collected at specified time points. G-CSF treatment enhanced the total lymphocyte count (P = .002) and increased CD3+ (P = .005), CD4+ (P = .03), and CD8+ (P = .004) T cell counts as well as numbers of CD3− CD16+CD56+ NK cells (P = .001). The increases in CD4+ and CD8+ cell counts resulted from increases in CD45RO+ memory T cells and cells expressing the CD38 activation marker. Lymphocyte proliferative responses to phytohemagglutinin and Candida antigen decreased, whereas NK cell activity and plasma HIV RNA did not change during G-CSF treatment. After 24 weeks, all immune parameters had returned to baseline values. This study suggests that G-CSF treatment of HIV-infected patients receiving stable HAART increases the concentration of CD4+, CD8+, and NK cells without inducing changes in the virus load.