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Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is a cytokine known to regulate lymphocyte development
and homeostasis. Recent data indicate that IL-7 levels may be associated
with disease progression in HIV-infected subjects. Here we examined
prognostic value of pre-treatment IL-7 levels on
The 2nd IAS Conference on HIV
Pathogenesis and Treatment S297
immune and viral parameters in
advanced HIV-infected patients receiving lopinavir/ritonavir-based therapy.
Thirty-six Patients who had failed two or more antiretroviral regimens were
treated with lopinavir/ritonavir as salvage therapy. IL-7 levels,
lymphocyte,
CD4+, CD8+ cell counts
and viral load levels were monitored at
baseline,
4, 12, 24 and 48 weeks. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis were
used. The median values at enrolment were:
age 43 years (2160);
CD4+ cell count 138 cells/΅l (1358) and viral load 4.6 log10 copies/ml
(2.95.9). Baseline IL-7 levels were higher
in HIV
patients compared to uninfected controls (7.0 vs 2.0 pg/ml;P<0.0001)
and were inversely correlated with the number of lymphocytes (r=0.54;
P=0.0007),
CD4+ cells counts (r=0.59;
P=0.0002),
and age (r=0.57;
P=0.0003)
and positively with viral load (r=0.31;
P=0.06).
During the course of treatment, IL-7 levels decreased significantly by week
48 (3.6 pg/ml;
P=0.005),
while CD4+ cells had a mean increase of +125 cells/΅l (P<0.0001).
Multivariate regression analysis showed that only baseline IL-7 levels
predicted viral load at 48 weeks when controlling for baseline
CD4+, CD8+ cell counts, viral load and patient demographics
n(r2=0.51, ί=0.09; 95% CI: 0.010.16). We conclude that upon CD4+
recovery IL-7 levels decreased in a
homeostatic manner even in very advanced HIV-infected patients. IL-7
measurements might be used as a new predictor marker of viral response. |
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