T-cell changes after a short-term exposure to maraviroc in HIV-infected patients are related to antiviral activity

Objectives: Analyze the short-term immunological effect directly attributable to MRV without interference of other drugs. Methods: MRV group included experienced HIV-infected patients undergoing an 8-day MRV monotherapy. A comparison population included naive HIV-infected patients starting combined antiretroviral therapy (cART group). Absolute CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cells and T-lymphocyte subsets were determined at day 0 and 8. Results: Fifty-nine patients who underwent MRV monotherapy and 28 naive patients were analyzed. Forty-one patients in the MRV group experienced a significant viral load decrease (MRV positive subgroup). Virological response and CD4(+) T-cell change were comparable in the MRV positive and cART groups. CD8(+) T-cell increase in the MRV positive subgroup showed a trend toward superiority when compared with the cART group. T-lymphocyte subset changes showed a similar profile in the MRV positive and cART groups with a differential effect in the TemRA cells related to MRV. No immunological effect (absolute lymphocyte counts or subsets) was observed in patients without virological response to MRV. Conclusions: MRV produced CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell gains related to antiviral activity and comparable or even superior in terms of CD8(+) T-cells to naive patients starting cART. No immunological effect occurred in subjects without virological response to MRV. (C) 2012 The British Infection Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.