Primary HIV-1 Infection Is Associated with Preferential Depletion of CD4+ T Lymphocytes from Effector Sites in the Gastrointestinal Tract

• DOI: 10.1084/jem.20041196
• Publication Date: 2004-09-14T00:26:21Z
• Authors: Saurabh Mehandru; Michael A. Poles; Klara Tenner-Racz; Amir Horowitz; Arlene Hurley; Christine Hogan; Daniel Boden; Paul Racz; Martin Markowitz
• Keywords: Intestinal mucosa; Mucous membrane

Given its population of CCR5-expressing, immunologically activated CD4+ T cells, the gastrointestinal (GI) mucosa is uniquely susceptible to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infection. We undertook this study assess whether a preferential depletion mucosal cells would be observed in HIV-1–infected subjects during primary infection period, examine anatomic subcompartment from which these are depleted, and suppressive highly active antiretroviral therapy could result complete immune reconstitution compartment. Our results demonstrate that significant compared with peripheral blood seen HIV-1 cell loss predominated effector GI mucosa, distinction inductive compartment, where RNA was present. Cross-sectional analysis cohort showed although chronic suppression permits near-complete recovery population, significantly greater remains despite up 5 yr fully therapy. importance compartment pathogenesis, further elucidate significance changes here critical.