Dysregulated Immune Activation in Second-Line HAART HIV+ Patients Is Similar to That of Untreated Patients: e0145261

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 10; no. 12
• Main Authors: Espindola, Milena S, Lima, Leonardo JG, Soares, Luana S, Cacemiro, Maira C, Zambuzi, Fabiana A, Gomes, Matheus deSouza, Amaral, Laurence R, Bollela, Valdes R, Martins-Filho, Olindo A, Frantz, Fabiani G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-12-2015
• Subjects: Human immunodeficiency virus
• ISSN: 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145261

Background Successful highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has changed the outcome of AIDS patients worldwide because the complete suppression of viremia improves health and prolongs life expectancy of HIV-1+ patients. However, little attention has been given to the immunological profile of patients under distinct HAART regimens. This work aimed to investigate the differences in the immunological pattern of HIV-1+ patients under the first- or second-line HAART in Brazil. Methods CD4+ T cell counts, Viral load, and plasma concentration of sCD14, sCD163, MCP-1, RANTES, IP-10, IL-1[Beta], IL-6, TNF- alpha , IL-12, IFN- alpha , IFN- gamma , IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 were assessed for immunological characterization of the following clinical groups: Non-infected individuals (NI; n = 66), HIV-1+ untreated (HIV; n = 46), HIV-1+ treated with first-line HAART (HAART 1; n = 15); and HIV-1+ treated with second-line HAART (HAART 2; n = 15). Results We found that the immunological biosignature pattern of HAART 1 is similar to that of NI individuals, especially in patients presenting slow progression of the disease, while patients under HAART 2 remain in a moderate inflammatory state, which is similar to that of untreated HIV patients pattern. Network correlations revealed that differences in IP-10, TNF- alpha , IL-6, IFN- alpha , and IL-10 interactions were primordial in HIV disease and treatment. Heat map and decision tree analysis identified that IP-10>TNF- alpha >IFN- alpha were the best respective HAART segregation biomarkers. Conclusion HIV patients in different HAART regimens develop distinct immunological biosignature, introducing a novel perspective into disease outcome and potential new therapies that consider HAART patients as a heterogeneous group.