Short communication: T cell activation in HIV-1/herpes simplex virus-2-coinfected Kenyan women receiving valacyclovir
Roxby, A.C.; Liu, A.Y.; Drake, A.L.; Kiarie, J.N.; Richardson, B.; Lohman-Payne, B.L.; John-Stewart, G.C.; Wald, A.; De Rosa, S.; Farquhar, C.
Aids Research and Human Retroviruses 29(1): 94-98
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 0889-2229 PMID: 22852760 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2012.0071Document Number: 572985
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.