T Cell Activation in HIV-1/Herpes Simplex Virus-2-Coinfected Kenyan Women Receiving Valacyclovir.

Publication Type:

Journal Article

Authors:

Roxby, Alison C; Liu, Amy Y; Drake, Alison L; Kiarie, James N; Richardson, Barbra; Lohman-Payne, Barbara L; John-Stewart, Grace C; Wald, Anna; De Rosa, Stephen; Farquhar, Carey

Source:

AIDS research and human retroviruses, Volume 29, Issue 1, p.94-8 (2013)

Keywords:

2013, August 2012, Center-Authored Paper, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division

Abstract:

Abstract Herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) suppression with acyclovir or valacyclovir reduces HIV-1 viral RNA levels; one hypothesis is that HSV-2 suppression reduces immune activation. We measured T cell immune activation markers among women participating in a randomized placebo-controlled trial of valacyclovir to reduce HIV-1 RNA levels among pregnant women. Although valacyclovir was associated with lower HIV-1 RNA levels, the distribution of both CD4(+) and CD8(+) CD38(+)HLA-DR(+) T cells was not different among women taking valacyclovir when compared to women taking placebo. Further study is needed to understand the mechanism of HIV-1 RNA reduction following herpes suppression among those coinfected with HIV-1 and HSV-2.