HIV-1–specific immune responses in subjects who temporarily contain virus replication after discontinuation of highly active antiretroviral therapy

• Published in: The Journal of clinical investigation Vol. 104; no. 6; pp. R13 - R18
• Main Authors: Ortiz, Gabriel M., Nixon, Douglas F., Trkola, Alexandra, Binley, James, Jin, Xia, Bonhoeffer, Sebastian, Kuebler, Peter J., Donahoe, Sean M., Demoitie, Marie-Ange, Kakimoto, William M., Ketas, Tom, Clas, Brian, Heymann, Jonas J., Zhang, Linqi, Cao, Yunzhen, Hurley, Arlene, Moore, John P., Ho, David D., Markowitz, Martin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Society for Clinical Investigation 01.09.1999
• Subjects: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - drug therapy; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - immunology; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - virology; Adult; Anti-HIV Agents - therapeutic use; HIV Core Protein p24 - immunology; HIV-1 - immunology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Rapid Publication; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic - immunology; Viremia - drug therapy; Viremia - immunology; Virus Replication
• ISSN: 0021-9738
• DOI: 10.1172/JCI7371

Therapeutic intervention with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can lead to suppression of HIV-1 plasma viremia to undetectable levels for 3 or more years. However, adherence to complex drug regimens can prove problematic, and subjects may temporarily discontinue HAART for variable periods. We studied 6 HIV-1-infected individuals who stopped therapy. Off HAART, levels of viremia were suppressed to fewer than 500 copies/mL in 2 subjects for more than 12 and more than 24 months, respectively, and in 1 subject for 4 months on 1 occasion. Three subjects failed to contain plasma viremia. Broad and strong HIV-1-specific immune responses were detected in subjects with prolonged suppression of viral replication. This longitudinal study suggests that containment of HIV-1 replication to low or undetectable levels after discontinuation of HAART is associated with strong virus-specific immune responses. Boosting of HIV-1-specific immune responses should be considered as an adjunctive treatment strategy for HIV-1-infected individuals on HAART.