Lymphoid Fibrosis Occurs in Long-Term Nonprogressors and Persists With Antiretroviral Therapy but May Be Reversible With Curative Interventions

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication causes lymphoid tissue (LT) fibrosis, which causes CD4(+) T-cell depletion. It is unknown whether people who spontaneously control HIV replication have LT fibrosis. We measured LT fibrosis and CD4(+) T cells in 25 HIV controllers, 10 noncontrollers, 45 HIV-positive individuals receiving therapy, and 10 HIV-negative individuals. Controllers had significant LT fibrosis and CD4(+) T-cell depletion, similar to noncontrollers, but the so-called Berlin patient (in whom HIV infection was cured) had near normal LT. Thus, LT fibrosis occurs in all HIV-infected subjects, and current therapy does not reverse it. Reversal of fibrosis during a curative intervention suggests that ongoing low-level virus production may maintain LT fibrosis.

Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases

DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiu586

Authors: Joyce L. Sanchez, Peter W. Hunt, Cavan S. Reilly, Hiroyu Hatano, Gregory J. Beilman, Alexander Khoruts, Jake S. Jasurda, Ma Somsouk, Ann Thorkelson, Samuel Russ, Jodi Anderson, Steven G. Deeks, Timothy W. Schacker

Institutions: University of Minnesota, University of California, San Francisco

Language: English

Topic: HIV Research and Treatment

Subfield: Virology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Institutes of Health, University of California, San Francisco, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute of Mental Health, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Center for Research Resources

OpenAlex ID: W2068787629