Resino, SalvadorSeoane, ElenaPérez, AliciaRuiz-Mateos, EzequielLeal, ManuelMuñoz-Fernández, Maria A2014-09-032014-09-032006-07-13Resino S, Seoane E, Pérez A, Ruiz-Mateos E, Leal M, Muñoz-Fernández MA. Different profiles of immune reconstitution in children and adults with HIV-infection after highly active antiretroviral therapy. BMC Infect Dis. 2006; 6:112http://hdl.handle.net/10668/1706Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't;BACKGROUND Recent advances in characterizing the immune recovery of HIV-1-infected people have highlighted the importance of the thymus for peripheral T-cell diversity and function. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in immune reconstitution profiles after highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) between HIV-children and adults. METHODS HIV patients were grouped according to their previous clinical and immunological status: 9 HIV-Reconstituting-adults (HIV-Rec-adults) and 10 HIV-Reconstituting-children (HIV-Rec-children) on HAART with viral load (VL) <or=400 copies/ml and CD4+ >or=500 cells/microL at least during 6 months before the study and CD4+ <or=300 cells/microL anytime before. Fifteen healthy-adults and 20 healthy-children (control subjects) were used to calculate Z-score values to unify value scales between children and adults to make them comparable. RESULTS HIV-Rec-children had higher T-cell receptor excision circles (TREC) and lower interleukin (IL)-7 levels than HIV-Rec-adults (p < 0.05). When we analyzed Z-score values, HIV-Rec-children had higher TREC Z-score levels (p = 0.03) than HIV-Rec-adults but similar IL-7 Z-score levels. Regarding T-cell subsets, HIV-Rec-children had higher naïve CD4+ (CD4+CD45RA hi+CD27+), naïve CD8+ (CD8+CD45RA hi+CD27+), and memory CD8+ (CD8+CD45RO+) cells/microl than HIV-Rec-adults, but similar memory CD4+ (CD4+CD45RO+) counts. HIV-Rec-children had lower naïve CD8+ Z-score values than HIV-Rec-adults (p = 0.05). CONCLUSION Our data suggest that HIV-Rec-children had better thymic function than HIV-Rec-adults and this fact affects the peripheral T-cell subsets. Thus, T-cell recovery after HAART in HIV-Rec-adults could be the consequence of antigen-independent peripheral T-cell expansion while in HIV-Rec-children thymic output could play a predominant role in immune reconstitution.enAdultoTerapia Antirretroviral Altamente ActivaMarcadores BiológicosNiñoEstudios TransversalesVIHInfecciones por VIHLinfocitos TTimoCarga ViralAdolescenteMedical Subject Headings::Named Groups::Persons::Age Groups::AdultMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Therapeutics::Drug Therapy::Drug Therapy, Combination::Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly ActiveMedical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Biological Factors::Biological MarkersMedical Subject Headings::Named Groups::Persons::Age Groups::ChildMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Investigative Techniques::Epidemiologic Methods::Epidemiologic Study Characteristics as Topic::Epidemiologic Studies::Cross-Sectional StudiesMedical Subject Headings::Organisms::Viruses::RNA Viruses::Retroviridae::Lentivirus::Lentiviruses, Primate::HIVMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Virus Diseases::RNA Virus Infections::Retroviridae Infections::Lentivirus Infections::HIV InfectionsMedical Subject Headings::Organisms::Eukaryota::Animals::Chordata::Vertebrates::Mammals::Primates::Haplorhini::Catarrhini::Hominidae::HumansMedical Subject Headings::Anatomy::Cells::Blood Cells::Leukocytes::Leukocytes, Mononuclear::Lymphocytes::T-LymphocytesMedical Subject Headings::Anatomy::Tissues::Lymphoid Tissue::Thymus GlandMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Diagnosis::Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures::Clinical Laboratory Techniques::Microbiological Techniques::Viral LoadMedical Subject Headings::Named Groups::Persons::Age Groups::Adolescentresearch article16839416open access10.1186/1471-2334-6-1121471-2334PMC1534048