Objective To investigate the features of immune response of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) antigen specific T lymphocytes in HIV-1 monoinfected or HIV 1/hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfected individuals.Methods Twenty-six HIV-1 monoinfected and 23 HIV-1/HCV coinfected individuals were enrolled.Immunomagnetic microbeads were used to isolate T lymphocyte subpopulation CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).Frequencies of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) secreting cells of CD4+,CD8+ T lymphocytes and PBMC stimulated by a peptide pool containing 12 overlapping peptides in HIV-1 P24 from 49 patients were assessed by enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay.HIV-1 RNA levels of these patients were also detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction.The data were compared by one-way ANOVA and Mann-Whitney U test,and Spearman test was used for correlation analysis.Results Frequencies of HIV-1 antigen specific CD4+ T lymphocytes [median =25 spot-forming cells (SFC)/106 cells] were significantly lower than those of CD8+T lymphocytes (median=38SFC/106 cells,F=4.592,P=0.037) and PBMC (median=53 SFC/106 cells,F=5.436,P=0.025) in HIV-1 monoinfected group.Frequencies of HIV-1 antigen specific CD4+ T lymphocytes (median=5 SFC/106 cells,Z=-2.432,P=0.015),CD8+T lymphocytes (median=5 SFC/106 cells,Z=-1.996,P=0.046) and PBMC (median=10 SFC/106 cells,Z=-2.306,P=0.021) in HIV-1/HCV coinfected group were significantly lower than those in HIV-1 monoinfected group.Conclusions In HIV-1 infection,antigen specific immune response of CD4+ T cells can be activated,but weaker than that of CD8+ T cells.Co-infection with HCV might down-regulate the responses of HIV-1 antigen specific T lymphocytes in HIV-1 infected individuals.

Objective To investigate the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on human immunodeficiency virus type-1 ( HIV-1 ) antigen specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) immune responses. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from 38 HIV-1 infected individuals receiving HAART ( HAART group) and 31 HIV-1 infected individuals not receiving HAART (non-HAART group), and stimulated with a peptide pool containing 12 overlapping peptides in HIV-1 P24;then the frequency of interferon γ ( IFNγ ) secreting cells were assessed by enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) method. Difference in HIV-1 antigen specific CTL immune response between non-HAART group and HAART group was analyzed by χ2 and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results Positive response rate of HIV-1 antigen specific CTL immune responses in HAART group ( 65.8%, 24/38 ) was higher than that of non-HAART group (32.3%, 10/31, χ2 = 6. 522, P ＜ 0.05 ). For HIV-1 infected individuals with blood CD4 +T cells ＞ 350/μL, the frequency of HIV-1 antigen specific CTL responses in HAART group was higher than that in non-HAART group (Z = -2. 819, P ＜0.05 ). In the HAART group, those receiving HAART more than 12 months were of higher frequency of HIV-1 antigen specific CTL responses ( Z =-2. 195, P ＜ 0. 05 ). Conclusion HAART especially long-term treatment may enhance HIV-1 specific CTL responses in HIV-1 infected individuals.